Top 10 Parkinson’s news stories of 2025

Throughout 2025, the team at Parkinson’s News Today has reported on the latest research updates and advances in care related to Parkinson’s disease.

Below is a list of the top 10 most-read articles we published this year. We look forward to continuing to serve as a source of news and information for the Parkinson’s community in the years to come.

No. 10 – Virus long thought harmless may trigger Parkinson’s

The causes of Parkinson’s disease aren’t fully understood — some patients have underlying genetic mutations, but other factors, such as environmental exposures, also may play a role in triggering the disease. In a study published this summer, researchers found that brain samples from people with Parkinson’s were more likely than those from individuals without the disease to be infected with human pegivirus (HPgV), a common infection that had long been thought to be harmless. Findings suggest that HPgV infection may play a role in the development of Parkinson’s, and researchers have also found that immune responses to the virus may vary in people with or without certain Parkinson’s-causing mutations.

Read more here.

No. 9 – Scientists develop weekly injectable implant for Parkinson’s treatment

A mainstay of Parkinson’s treatment is levodopa and carbidopa, which help normalize brain signaling molecules to ease Parkinson’s symptoms. But over the long run, this type of therapy gets less effective, often requiring patients to take many pills over the course of the day. To help make treatment easier and more convenient, scientists developed an injectable implant designed to slowly release levodopa and carbidopa into the body, thereby maintaining steady levels of the drugs over the course of a week.

Read more here.

No. 8 – DBS plus exercising may rewire Parkinson’s brain

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical treatment for Parkinson’s disease that involves implanting an electrode to deliver electrical stimulation to the brain, helping to normalize brain electrical activity and alleviate symptoms. There’s also evidence that regular exercise can help ease Parkinson’s symptoms. In this study, scientists evaluated the effect of combining DBS with a cycling-based exercise program on brain electrical activity. The results indicated that long-term exercise led to changes in brain activity, suggesting improvements in the brain’s ability to form new connections.

Read more here.

No. 7 – FDA approves bilateral Exablate Neuro treatment for Parkinson’s

Insightec’s Exablate Neuro utilizes MRI-guided ultrasound (high-intensity sound waves) to target and destroy specific brain structures, thereby helping to normalize brain signaling and ease Parkinson’s symptoms. The therapy had previously been approved for use as a unilateral treatment, meaning it was intended for use on only one side of the brain. In July, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized the device for bilateral use, on both sides of the brain. The approval was based on clinical trial data showing bilateral treatment could ease motor symptoms.

Read more here.

No. 6 – Dosing starts in trial of anti-inflammatory therapy for Parkinson’s

In March, Ventus Therapeutics announced it had begun dosing in a Phase 2a clinical trial testing its experimental therapy VENT-02 in adults with mild to moderate Parkinson’s disease. VENT-02 is an oral therapy designed to enter the brain and reduce inflammation. In October, Ventus announced it was terminating the trial; the company didn’t provide details on the reasons behind this decision.

Read more here.

No. 5 – FDA clears early trial of stem cell therapy for Parkinson’s

In April, the FDA accepted an application from Xellsmart seeking permission to initiate a Phase 1 trial to evaluate its experimental treatment XS-411. The therapy works by collecting easily accessible cells from healthy donors, then reprogramming those cells into stem cells that can be used to grow new, healthy nerve cells to replace those damaged in Parkinson’s. An early trial in China showed XS-411 was safe and appeared to ease Parkinson’s symptoms, according to Xellsmart.

Read more here.

No. 4 – Program offers psychedelics as treatment for Parkinson’s

Ambio Life Sciences is running a clinical program offering ibogaine as a treatment for people with Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases. Ibogaine is a naturally occurring psychedelic that isn’t legal in the U.S.; Ambio works in jurisdictions where the drug can be given therapeutically. In this program, patients receive a few high doses of ibogaine at an Ambio facility, then receive lower doses to take at home, for a total cost of just over $6,000.

Read more here.

No. 3 – Bacteria in digestive tract tied to cognitive decline

The human digestive system, including the mouth and intestines, is home to billions of bacteria and other microorganisms that have profound effects on health. In this study, scientists found that bacteria in the mouth and gut differ between individuals with Parkinson’s disease who experience cognitive decline and those who do not. Based on the data, researchers suggested that toxin-producing bacteria may play a role in the development of cognitive decline in Parkinson’s.

Read more here.

No. 2 – Study identifies potential way to treat Parkinson’s constipation

Constipation is a common problem for people with Parkinson’s disease. Scientists in Australia found that disruptions in crosstalk between two chemical signaling molecules, ghrelin and dopamine, may underlie the development of constipation in Parkinson’s disease. The data indicate that treatments aiming to boost ghrelin signaling may help to relieve constipation in Parkinson’s patients, and the researchers have already secured funding to further test this idea.

Read more here.

No. 1 – Research shows disrupted mitochondrial DNA tied to inflammation

Parkinson’s is characterized by dysfunction of mitochondria, cellular structures that are key for energy production and also house their own DNA. A low mitochondrial DNA copy number has been linked to an increased risk of Parkinson’s. In this study, researchers found that this link isn’t explained by a direct connection between mitochondria and Parkinson’s — instead, the data suggest that abnormal inflammation in Parkinson’s leads to disruptions in mitochondrial DNA copy number levels. The findings may aid in the development of new blood tests to detect Parkinson’s, researchers said.

Read more here.

We hope our reporting at Parkinson’s News Today has been a valuable resource for the Parkinson’s community in 2025. We look forward to continuing to serve those affected by Parkinson’s in 2026 and wish all our readers a happy new year!