News

Blood test may help diagnose Parkinson’s, similar conditions

A highly sensitive blood test accurately identified people with synucleinopathies, disorders caused by the abnormal aggregation of the protein alpha-synuclein, such as Parkinson’s disease. The test, called immunoprecipitation-based real-time quaking-induced conversion (IP/RT-QuIC), detected early-formed alpha-synuclein fibrils — or seeds — that eventually grew into disease-causing aggregates. Microscopic analysis detected…

Autonomic impairment linked to sleep problems in Parkinson’s

In people with Parkinson’s disease, sleep disturbances and excessive daytime sleepiness (EDS) were associated with the impairment of the autonomic nervous system that controls involuntary bodily functions, a study shows. Depression and rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD), or dream-enacting behavior, also contributed to problems sleeping at night…

Long-term sargramostim led to motor gains for 5 patients

Long-term treatment with sargramostim, an immune-modulating medication from Partner Therapeutics, was safe and improved motor function for five men with Parkinson’s disease, according to data from a small open-label Phase 1 clinical trial. Evidence suggested the therapy exerted its benefits by boosting the function of anti-inflammatory…

MJFF, H1 working to boost participation in clinical trials

The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) is partnering with H1 to enhance the connections between physicians, researchers and patients with Parkinson’s disease. MJFF will use H1’s Trial Landscape platform to identify and communicate with lead researchers and physicians treating Parkinson’s patients, including those in populations typically unrepresented…

Digital tool shortens time of initial programming for DBS

A new digital tool called MAP DBS may help improve the efficiency of deep brain stimulation (DBS) for people with Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests. “We showed that MAP DBS can improve the time spent at the initial DBS programming visit when compared to [standard-of-care] procedures, which has…