News

Surgeons and neurologists treating Parkinson’s disease now have a clearer, more personalized window into the human brain, thanks to a newly cleared software tool that maps surgical implants and brain pathways. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted clearance to Omniscient Neurotechnology for Quicktome Deep Brain…

Researchers identified candidate biomarkers in spinal fluid and blood that showed different patterns among healthy controls, people in a prodromal group at risk of Parkinson’s, and those diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, suggesting they may help track the disease across stages. The analysis included more than 1,100 participants. “Our data-driven approach…

A new first-in-class treatment for Parkinson’s disease, designed to get past the brain’s protective barrier, was shown to be safe and well-tolerated in an early clinical trial, and to have “robust [central nervous system] exposure.” That’s according to new data from the Phase 1 trial, which involved both patients…

A person’s genetic makeup may shape whether coffee consumption raises or lowers the risk of Parkinson’s disease, a study found. Drinking no more than four cups of coffee a day appeared to reduce the risk of Parkinson’s in people who carry a specific genetic version of the CYP1A2 gene, the…

A compound found in the psychedelic plant brew ayahuasca — originating from the Amazon rainforest — was shown to protect dopamine-producing nerve cells and ease movement problems in a mouse model of Parkinson’s disease. A new study by researchers in Spain found that the compound, called N,N-dimethyltryptamine (DMT),…

Bezisterim, an experimental oral small molecule that Biovie is developing for people with early-stage Parkinson’s disease, is moving toward Phase 3 clinical testing, with the company requesting a meeting with U.S. regulators. The main goal of the end-of-Phase 2 meeting with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is to…

A new smartphone monitoring tool for people with Parkinson’s disease — designed for those who use an Apple Watch — can continuously measure tremor and involuntary movements, known as dyskinesia, which may help provide doctors with a more complete picture of a patient’s symptoms between clinic visits. The…

Dance-based programs for people with Parkinson’s disease have primarily focused on the effects of such interventions on motor problems, with nonmotor symptoms and cognitive changes receiving considerably less attention. That’s according to a new review of more than three dozen studies on dance in Parkinson’s, culled from a trio…

Veteran actors Michael J. Fox and Harrison Ford are teaming up to help people better understand how to support a friend with Parkinson’s disease in a new awareness campaign from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). In a nearly two-minute video, the friends/coworkers —…

Disease-causing mutations in the LRRK2 gene may disrupt iron regulation and promote cell damage, potentially contributing to the loss of dopamine-producing nerve cells in Parkinson’s disease, a study found. The findings suggest that abnormal LRRK2 protein activity may contribute to iron accumulation inside cells and promote oxidative stress and…