News

University of Cambridge researchers have developed the first biologically realistic model of the brain’s neuronal behavior when complex decisions are being made, and when adapting to mistakes. The mathematical model of neural decision-making activity and behavior could help researchers better understand a range of neuronal conditions, including Parkinson’s disease. The paper, “Goal-Directed…

People with Parkinson’s disease have a higher risk of bad falls and hip fractures as early as 26 years before diagnosis, partly because of a poorer sense of balance that might be an early sign of the illness, according to a study published in the journal PLOS Medicine and titled “Risk of Injurious…

Mayo Clinic researchers in Arizona and Banner Sun Health Research Institute have found that a biopsy of a portion of a person’s submandibular gland may be a feasible approach to diagnose early Parkinson’s disease. The research is published in the journal Movement Disorders and titled “Peripheral…

Researchers have discovered the cellular role and target of the most common genetic cause of Parkinson’s disease: LRRK2 kinase mutations. The study, “Phosphoproteomics reveals that Parkinson’s disease kinase LRRK2 regulates a subset of Rab GTPases,” was published in eLife. Parkinson’s disease is not generally considered a genetic…

Researchers from the Gladstone Institutes published two research papers detailing what appears to be the mechanisms behind imbalances in specific brain regions that cause the movement and walking difficulties experienced by Parkinson’s patients. The papers appeared in the journals Cell and Neuron. Faulty dopamine production is one of the hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and has…

A study published in the journal Molecular Biology and Evolution shows that the global gene regulator GABPa is controlling uniquely human genes – and may contribute to diseases like Parkinson’s. The team, led by Robert Querfurth, explored the gene regulator – known as a transcription factor in scientific language –…

Researchers report that a single hand-exercise session, lasting just 15 minutes, improved both manual dexterity and movement in patients with Parkinson’s disease, helping them carry out basic tasks like writing a note or a buttoning shirt. The study, “Effects of a Single Hand–Exercise Session on Manual Dexterity and Strength in Persons…

Researchers at the Whitehead Institute have created a promising mouse model to study embryonic development, and one that has the potential to serve as a model for neurological diseases such as Parkinson’s and cancers such as melanoma. The study describes the engineering and development of the mouse-human chimera, or mice…

Interest in the potential of stem cell therapy to treat a variety of neurological conditions, including Parkinson’s disease (PD), has been growing for several years, but the question remains: how close are these treatments to clinical use? A new article in the journal Acta Neurologica Scandinavica explored whether stem cell…

In a new editorial published in JAMA Neurology, Dr J. Eric Ahlskog argues that ongoing aerobic exercise should be included in the physical and occupational therapy component of Parkinson’s disease (PD) treatment, since substantial evidence has suggested vigorous exercise is of considerable benefit to patients. Dr.