The virus that causes COVID-19 is able to infect dopamine-producing brain cells and trigger a specific pattern of dysfunction that has been linked with the development of Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. “Given our findings, we posit that over the coming years, there is a need to closely monitor…

It started with a dry throat, which isn’t unusual for us in winter. After a lifetime of living in chilly Cleveland, we’re used to the dryness from forced-air heat. But the minute my husband, Arman, and I both woke up to this dry throat, we immediately tested ourselves for…

Using amantadine — a parkinsonian medication that has also antiviral activity — does not reduce the occurrence of COVID-19 or its severity among people with Parkinson’s disease, a Polish study found. Rather, the researchers observed that COVID-19 was less common among people over age 50 age, and those with…

People who had COVID-19 might have an increased risk for developing neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s disease, researchers in Australia found. Moreover, the researchers have offered a possible treatment to reduce the  COVID-induced neuroinflammation. COVID-19 activates an inflammatory response in the brain that is similar to Parkinson’s disease, contributing…

In May 2020, Parkinson’s News Today‘s Joana Carvalho wrote about a study published in the journal eLife. The study describes a new tool that would allow scientists to study the effects of mitochondrial damage, which could ultimately help restore neuron function in people with neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson’s disease.

A prior COVID-19 infection in mice increased their susceptibility to nerve cell loss caused by MPTP, a neurotoxin known to cause symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, according to a recent study. The findings suggest that while COVID-19 alone likely does not cause Parkinson’s, it may make nerve cells more sensitive…

A loss of social support due to the COVID-19 pandemic is tied to poorer mental health and more severe cognitive problems in people with Parkinson’s disease, a study based on a patient and caregiver survey reported. The study, “Impact of Isolation During the COVID-19 Pandemic on…

Last November, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved Exablate Neuro to treat motor symptoms in Parkinson’s disease patients, as reported by Parkinson’s News Today‘s Patricia Inacio, PhD. Created by medical device company Insightec, Exablate Neuro is a magnetic resonance, image-guided, focused ultrasound (MRgFUS) system that can treat tremors…

When my dad, Jim, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 2013, he fought the idea of pursuing Parkinson’s-specific exercise classes and seeking out others in the Parkinson’s community. Nobody wants to admit they’re getting weaker or are in trouble, and I think that initially, he was afraid to categorize…

Based on survey results indicating that pandemic restrictions considerably aggravated Parkinson’s disease (PD) symptoms and hampered care, Parkinson’s UK is calling on its various governments to take remedial steps to improve both care and access. Calls for action derive from a 41-page report by the nonprofit organization and Lancaster…