Scientists have developed a new technique that can detect Parkinson’s disease-related degeneration in a part of the brain, called the striatum, that’s key to movement. This type of analysis — which can be done for individuals with early-stage Parkinson’s — will allow researchers to distinguish different subgroups within this…

A high-resolution imaging approach that could help in diagnosing Parkinson’s disease by enabling physicians to more easily visualize the substantia nigra, the brain region responsible for controlling movement and whose nerve cells are gradually lost to this disease, is the goal of a research group in Australia. The…

A clinical study will test the potential of a specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique to diagnose Parkinson’s disease at early stages. The 18-month project, supported by a grant from the Center for Clinical and Translational Science in the U.K., will take place at the University…

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has granted 510(k) clearance to Qynapse‘s QyScore, a software that aids in analyzing brain scans taken by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The software, which is compatible with routine imaging workflows, includes an advanced user interface and automatically-generated patient reports.

Implantable electrodes made of glassy carbon may be safer for use in MRI scans than traditional electrodes made of metal for people who undergo deep brain stimulation, a new study shows. The study, “Glassy carbon microelectrodes minimize induced voltages, mechanical vibrations, and artifacts in magnetic resonance imaging,” was…

A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique allows for the visualization of molecular changes in the brain, a study reports. This technique will allow researchers to further understand how the brain works and how it changes with ageing or during the onset of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. Moreover,…

A specific magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) measure can accurately predict the development of eye movement abnormalities, helping to identify patients who develop progressive supranuclear palsy with parkinsonism (PSP-P) after an initial diagnosis of Parkinson’s, a study shows. The study, “Refining initial diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease after follow‐up:…

Engaging in regular exercise can help preserve the motor and non-motor function of Parkinson’s disease patients, most likely as a result of an increased release of dopamine in the brain, a small study suggests. The study, “Habitual Exercisers Versus Sedentary Subjects With Parkinson’s Disease: Multimodal PET…

Insightec has treated the first patient in a pivotal study of its non-invasive ultrasound therapy, ExAblate Neuro, for patients with advanced Parkinson’s who have not responded to medication. The device uses focused ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) to destroy a target deep in the brain — the Vim…

Researchers at Wenzhou Medical University in China recently reviewed literature related to iron levels in the brains of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and confirmed elevated levels in several regions of the brain. The review paper, “Meta-analysis of brain iron levels of Parkinson’s disease patients determined by postmortem and…