News

Among adults in the U.K., poor hand grip strength is associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, especially among those who also have genetic risk factors for the neurodegenerative condition, according to a new report. Indeed, “compared with those with high [grip strength], low-[grip strength] individuals had…

Besides motor challenges, people with Parkinson’s disease have difficulty with motor imagery, or generating a mental representation of a movement, a study showed. That’s particularly true for the more affected side of the body. “Even when people with Parkinson’s think about movement, it’s different for their more affected side,”…

Metabolic syndrome, a cluster of conditions that can increase the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and stroke, is associated with a higher risk of developing dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease, according to recent research. “These findings advocate for comprehensive management of MetS [metabolic syndrome] as a pivotal strategy…

Changes in gut bacteria may be a useful marker to help diagnose Parkinson’s disease, according to a new analysis. The study, “Microbial biomarker discovery in Parkinson’s disease through a network-based approach,” was published in npj Parkinson’s Disease. The human digestive tract is home to billions of…

Inbrain Neuroelectronics has raised $50 million in funding to continue developing its brain-computer interface (BCI) technology using ultra-thin graphene electrodes, designed for more personalized treatment of people with Parkinson’s disease and other conditions. BCIs are implanted devices that can be used to decode and modulate brain activity.

A new partnership will work to develop customized assays to detect and quantify blood biomarkers to support the advancement of new treatments for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. Adx Neurosciences, which makes biomarker assays for neurodegenerative diseases, and Alamar Biosciences, a proteomics company with technology to detect…

Two newly identified brain pathways originating from the striosome — a cluster of nerve cells (neurons) in the striatum, a brain region that controls movement and motivation — may provide an additional layer of regulation, a mouse study found. The findings challenge scientists’ understanding of how the brain controls those…

Transplanting stem cells genetically engineered to have reduced activity of a faulty SNCA gene improved motor function and extended lifespan in a mouse model of SNCA-associated Parkinson’s disease, a study shows. “The results of this study suggest an innovative therapeutic approach that combines stem cell therapy and gene therapy…

The frequency of headaches, including tension-type headaches and migraines, is similar among people with and without Parkinson’s disease, according to the findings of a questionnaire-based study from researchers in Italy. Still, headaches, particularly migraines, disappeared more often in patients within three years of symptom onset than in healthy individuals…

Genetic variations that influence the size of specific brain regions are associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. “Our findings suggest that genetic influences that underpin individual differences in brain structure may be fundamental to understanding the underlying causes of brain-related disorders,” Miguel Rentería,…