Tiny crystals known as quantum dots can block the formation of Parkinson’s hallmark protein clumps, lowering nerve cell death and motor deficits, a mouse study has found. The research, “Graphene quantum dots prevent α-synucleinopathy in Parkinson’s disease,” was published in Nature Nanotechnology. Quantum dots are very…

Researchers have analyzed the three-dimensional toxic form of the protein alpha-synuclein, which is directly involved in Parkinson’s disease. The findings are now challenging previous knowledge investigators had of this disease. Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenrative disorder that belongs to the class of synucleopathies. In these type of diseases,…

An investigative compound similar to those used to treat diabetes was able to slow Parkinson’s progression and ease behavioral symptoms associated with the disease in mouse models. The compound, called NLY01 and developed by scientists at Johns Hopkins Medicine, works to protect against the loss of dopaminergic nerve cells —…

Very tiny particles of cerium oxide — a compound with antioxidant effects — can prevent the toxic effects of alpha-synuclein in the brain, which may represent a new therapeutic option for Parkinson’s disease, a study suggests. The study, “Nano-particle mediated inhibition of Parkinson’s disease using computational…

Accumulation of alpha-synuclein protein in the retina could be a biomarker of Parkinson’s disease severity, a new study suggests. The study, “Phosphorylated α‐synuclein in the retina is a biomarker of Parkinson’s disease pathology severity,” was published in the journal Movement Disorders. Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease include…

Mutations in the LRP10 gene are associated with the development of neurodegenerative diseases with Lewy bodies formation, such as Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s dementia and dementia with Lewy bodies, according to a recent study. The study, “LRP10 genetic variants in familial Parkinson’s disease and dementia with…

Ways of better diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s patients may lie in developing biomarkers, inhibitors, and stem cells therapies that are based on an enzyme newly identified in research into this disease, called soluble epoxide hydrolase (sEH), a commentary article suggests. The opinion piece, “Fatty acid chemical mediator provides insights…

Impaired intake of neurotransmitters leads to accumulation of toxic dopamine and neurodegeneration in patients with Parkinson’s disease, according to a new Northwestern Medicine study. The study, “LRRK2 phosphorylation of auxilin mediates synaptic defects in dopaminergic neurons from patients with Parkinson’s disease,” appeared in the journal…

A mutation common to familial Parkinson’s was seen in a study focused on tuberculosis to prevent immune cells of the brain from working properly, allowing protein to accumulate in nerve cells — and, potentially, to this specific disease’s development. The study, “LRRK2 is a negative regulator of Mycobacterium tuberculosis…

Affiris’ experimental Parkinson’s vaccine, Affitope PD01A, is safe and effectively triggers an immune response against the alpha-synuclein (aSyn) protein, data from a series of four consecutive clinical trials show. Results from the so-called AFF008 study program were recently presented at the Advances in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Therapies Focus Meeting (AAT-AD/PD) in…