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Important findings linking the protein Connexin 36 with the disrupted communication between nerve cells in Parkinson’s patients may contribute to a better understanding of the disease. The study was developed by Bettina Schwab, a former Ph.D. student at The Netherlands’ University of Twente Faculty of Electrical Engineering, Mathematics, and Computer…

Acorda Therapeutics recently presented results from a Phase 2b study of its investigational drug CVT-301 in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) at the 68th Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Neurology in Vancouver, Canada. “Approximately 350,000 people with PD in the U.S. experience OFF periods, which can be very disruptive. There…

Coffee is one of the most consumed drinks in the world, with U.S. consumers spending an average of $40 billion on coffee per year. Its main component, caffeine, is a natural stimulant that has been long considered the fuel behind modern society’s workforce, with many relying on multiple cups of coffee…

A University of California, San Diego, study shows that the same brain system involved in a sudden stop in physical movement also interrupts cognitive processes. The findings hold implications for Parkinson’s disease, where cognitive impairment is a major symptom. The study, “Surprise disrupts cognition via a fronto-basal ganglia…

Researchers found a genetic variation, known as the GG genotype, that identifies those Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients more likely to have slower disease progression — evidenced through tremors — and lower levels of alpha-synuclein, a protein linked to the disease. The findings have implications in disease diagnosis and treatment strategies, and were recently presented…

A European patent has been issued covering the composition of matter for Aeolus Pharmaceuticals’ AEOL 11114, an oral Parkinson’s disease (PD) drug. A patent for AEOL 11114 has also been allowed in Japan. AEOL 11114 was created by Brian J. Day, Ph.D., of National Jewish Health, and Manisha Patel, Ph.D.,…

Cynapsus Therapeutics and MonoSol Rx announced that they have signed a global licensing agreement for select intellectual property, including existing and future patents and patent applications, covering all oral films containing apomorphine for the treatment of “off” episodes  in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to the Michael J. Fox Foundation for…

Researchers from Monash University in Australia have published an overview of risk factors and potential protective ones in Parkinson’s disease. Published in the journal The Conversation, the article highlights how little is really known about this devastating disease. Age is among the known risk factors, but age in…

A biopsy of the submandibular gland — located beneath the floor of the mouth — has been proven effective in autopsies to diagnose Parkinson’s disease, but scientists are now studying it as a diagnostic tool during life to identify dementia with Lewy bodies, an often misdiagnosed condition. It is also much less…

Pfizer Inc. and International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) announced a collaborative research project to advance the development of remote medical monitoring solutions that aim to transform how clinicians deliver care to people with Parkinson’s disease. The first-of-its-kind experimental approach employed by Pfizer and IBM will harness a…