News

Report points to limited benefits of SSRIs in elderly patients

Use of certain anti-depressants may increase the risk of life-threatening clotting problems in elderly people with Parkinson’s disease, a new report highlights. The study, “Deep venous thrombosis and hyponatremia associated with citalopram use for behavioral symptoms in Parkinson’s disease: a case report,” was published in BMC…

Researchers use worms to study Parkinson’s neurodegeneration

Components from tire wear, higher temperatures and age accelerate the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease, a new study done in nematode worms suggests. The study, “Tire components, age and temperature accelerate neurodegeneration in C. elegans models of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the journal…

Collaboration explores alpha-synuclein in disease-modifying therapies

A collaborative effort between the University of Oxford and Selvita will foster the development of potential disease-modifying therapies targeting alpha-synuclein aggregation, a key hallmark of Parkinson’s disease. The accumulation of toxic aggregates of alpha-synuclein contributes to the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, the nerve cells in the…

LUMA trial expands to patients with LRRK2 gene mutation

The Phase 2 LUMA clinical trial, which is testing the experimental LRRK2 inhibitor BIIB122 in people with Parkinson’s disease, is expanding to open enrollment of patients who have a mutation in the LRRK2 gene, in addition to patients without mutations. Meanwhile, the Phase 3 LIGHTHOUSE study, which had been…

Naturally occurring UDCA improves motor abilities over 1 year

A year of daily treatment with ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA), a naturally occurring bile acid, led to small but significant improvements in motor abilities in adults with early Parkinson’s disease, a small Phase 2 study suggests. UDCA, already approved to treat a bile duct condition, also improved the function of…

Patients often start antipsychotics soon after being hospitalized

Many people with Parkinson’s disease who take antipsychotic medications begin them shortly after being hospitalized, a new study shows. The finding implies that poorly managed psychiatric problems likely contribute to hospitalizations. The data emphasize the importance of appropriately supporting and monitoring people with Parkinson’s so psychiatric issues can be…

FDA OKs ENT-01 for patient with multiple system atrophy

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has agreed that a 42-year-old man with prodromal, or early stage, multiple system atrophy (MSA) , a form of atypical parkinsonism, be treated with ENT-01, Enterin’s investigational therapy for reducing the accumulation of toxic alpha-synuclein in gut nerve cells. Treatment will…