News

A specific subset of dopamine-producing nerve cells in the brain appear to respond to movement acceleration and correspond with the region where cell death is particularly pronounced in Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. These neurons were responsive only to movement, and not to rewarding stimuli, which long…

Parkinson’s disease patients with urinary incontinence (UI) exhibit distinct brain activity networks compared with patients without the bladder symptom, according to a recent study. Urinary incontinence was linked to stronger functional interactions between brain regions implicated in Parkinson’s disease and others linked to brain-bladder control. Findings overall “will provide…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has given Aspen Neuroscience clearance to launch a clinical trial of ANPD001, an experimental stem cell therapy designed to replace the nerve cells that are lost in Parkinson’s disease. As planned, the open-label Phase 1/2a trial will test the safety,…

A diet rich in legumes — a food group including beans, soybeans, and lentils — was associated with a lower probability of Parkinson’s symptoms starting to appear, a stage called prodromal Parkinson’s disease, in adults under age 70 with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a study in South Korea…

RaceTrac is set to revive its “Run for Research” 5K race, scheduled for Sept. 16 at Truist Park in Atlanta, to support research for Parkinson’s disease. All proceeds, including the registration fees, will be donated to the Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) research programs that seek to…

Mutations in the LRRK2 gene might contribute to Parkinson’s disease by suppressing the activity of lysosomes, the cell compartments responsible for clearing misfolded proteins and other cellular waste, according to a recent study. In cell culture experiments, Parkinson’s-associated LRRK2 mutations were linked to reduced lysosome activity in microglia and macrophages,…

The American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) has launched a free online course to help healthcare workers better understand advanced Parkinson’s disease and how to best manage the challenges that come with caring for their patients with the disease. The educational module, titled…

A new campaign from Acorda Therapeutics encourages people with Parkinson’s disease to consider whether an on-demand treatment, such as its approved therapy Inbrija (levodopa inhalation powder), is right for them when faced with off episodes — periods of time when medication stops working and symptoms return.

The experimental oral therapy UCB0599 — now in clinical trials — improves motor coordination and reduces inflammation and levels of the disease-related protein alpha-synuclein in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. “This comprehensive package of [Parkinson’s]-relevant improvements supports the rationale of directly targeting misfolded [alpha-synuclein] with the small molecule minzasolmin…

Quansys Biosciences and The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) are teaming up to develop tests that can help monitor Parkinson’s disease progression and evaluate treatment effectiveness in clinical trials. The partnership builds on the company’s expertise in immunoassays, a type of test that uses…