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A new method for detecting toxic protein clumps of alpha-synuclein in skin cells may help diagnose Parkinson’s disease up to two decades before motor symptoms appear, according to a recent study. The novel technology combines super-resolution microscopy and advanced computational analysis to precisely map the protein clumps’ molecules…

Researchers have identified a mechanism underlying an addiction-like psychiatric complication of levodopa treatment known as dopamine dysregulation syndrome (DDS) in people with Parkinson’s disease in a recent preclinical study. In a mouse model, a DDS-like state was associated with abnormal activation of a certain population of nerve cells…

Subcutaneous, or under-the-skin, injections of COYA 302, a combination therapy in development by Coya Therapeutics, were found to reduce excessive inflammation and immune cell activation in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. These beneficial effects were observed in the nigrostriatal pathway, a brain circuit responsible for motor control,…

About 1 in 5 people with Parkinson’s disease in Italy have a family history of the disorder when the analysis extends beyond first-degree relatives to second- and third-degree relatives, a large-scale study has shown. First-degree relatives are comprise parents, siblings, and children. Second-degree relatives are aunts, uncles, grandparents, grandchildren,…

People with rare genetic mutations associated with Parkinson’s disease have a more than three times greater risk of developing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), a neurodegenerative disorder that leads to progressive muscle weakness, than do those without the genetic variants. That’s according to new research, presented at the…

People with Parkinson’s disease see movement-related symptoms like walking, balance, and tremor as the most bothersome aspects of their disease, while family members are more concerned about physical impacts like mobility and psychosocial aspects like interpersonal interactions and independence, according to a large-scale international survey. At later stages…

Healthcare services contribute to nearly half the total expenses associated with Parkinson’s disease, but the loss of productivity and the financial burden on patients and their families also have a substantial impact, a study shows. The study estimated the average annual cost per patient with Parkinson’s disease is about…

Note: This story was updated Sept. 16, 2024, to correct that A-dopamine is a form of dopamine. Levodopa, a mainstay in treating Parkinson’s disease, isn’t always well absorbed by the brain or digestive tract, doesn’t last long in the body, and often loses effectiveness with age and disease…

Electroacupuncture reduced cellular hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease, including alpha-synuclein accumulation and nerve cell degeneration, in a mouse model of the disease. That’s according to the findings from a study that also found the treatment, a type of acupuncture where small needles inserted at specific points in the body are…

Ncardia has launched a panel of ready-to-use cell-based assays to simplify the screening and selection of treatment candidates for neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease. The assays are based on human-derived induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), a type of stem cell that can generate nearly all types of cells.