Research on Parkinson's disease and its treatment. Covers mitochondrial protection, genetic progression markers, antibody therapies, and disease costs.
Researchers found that xanthohumol, a compound in hops, can protect neuronal cells from oxidative damage, potentially slowing the development of brain disorders like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The study suggests xanthohumol could be a promising candidate for fighting neurodegenerative conditions.
A new study published in Neurology found that low-frequency deep brain stimulation at 60Hz significantly improves swallowing dysfunction and freezing of gait in Parkinson's patients. This treatment is more effective than standard high-frequency DBS at alleviating these symptoms, which can lead to disability and mortality.
Researchers at Scripps Research Institute have identified drug candidates targeting biological pathways involved in brain cell destruction in Parkinson's disease. The new compounds selectively inhibit JNK kinases, which play a central role in the disease, and show promise as potential therapeutics.
Laurie Sanders, a Pitt assistant professor of neurology, will receive the William N. & Bernice E. Bumpus Foundation Innovation Award. The award supports her research on unrepaired mtDNA damage and its role in Parkinson's disease development.
Researchers discovered a protein in E. coli that inhibits the accumulation of toxic amyloids, a key feature of Parkinson's disease. The finding could lead to a new therapeutic approach for treating Parkinson's.
Researchers at UCSD have identified a specific region of the alpha-synuclein protein where mutations can lead to the creation of ring oligomers, causing cell death. This discovery could lead to the development of compounds that target this region to prevent or treat Parkinson's disease.
Researchers at University of Gothenburg tested portable stimulator on 10 Swedish Parkinson's patients, showing improved balance and combined symptoms. The active noise stimulation improved the patients' balance and symptoms when unmedicated, and may lead to new treatment in the next five years.
A study published in Neurology found that exercise programs can reduce falls and improve mobility in people with Parkinson's disease, particularly those with less severe symptoms. Participants who exercised showed a 70% reduction in falls and better overall mood and quality of life compared to those who did not participate.
Researchers found that methamphetamine users are three times more likely to develop Parkinson's disease than non-users, with women facing nearly five times the risk. The study suggests long-term effects of meth use may manifest years after initial use, leading to increased incidence in women.
Parkinson's patients, medics, and carers identified top 10 research priorities for managing the condition. The list includes balancing treatments for falls and improving sleep quality, as well as addressing stress, anxiety, and dyskinesias.
Researchers found a link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease, with patients having lower levels of Prevotellaceae bacteria and higher levels of Enterobacteriaceae family in their intestines. The study suggests that intestinal dysfunction may be part of the pathology and potentially related to the progression of the disease.
Researchers at IRCM have discovered a mechanism that regulates dopamine levels in the brain, which could lead to new treatments for Parkinson's disease. The Rgs6 gene plays a crucial role in preventing excessive dopaminergic signalling and cellular stress.
Researchers found no evidence of asymptomatic myocardial dysfunction or deterioration of systolic function in patients taking pramipexole and ropinirole. This suggests that non-ergot derived dopamine agonists may be safe for the heart, contradicting previous concerns about an increased risk of heart failure.
Drs. Alim Louis Benabid and Mahlon DeLong developed deep brain stimulation (DBS) for treating Parkinson's disease, improving motor function and quality of life for thousands of patients. Their groundbreaking research has led to the use of DBS in other disorders, benefiting over 110,000 patients worldwide.
A new study found that Parkinson's patients' brain activity improves equally in response to real medication and placebo treatment, highlighting the power of expectations to drive changes in the brain. The research suggests that dopamine-rich areas in the brain are activated when patients believe they have received medication, offering ...
Parkinson's patients experience changes in body weight due to non-motor disorders, worsening their quality of life. Research highlights the role of depression, cognitive impairment, sensory disturbances, and motivation towards food consumption in altering eating habits.
A new study published in Brain: A Journal of Neurology found that a medium amount of physical activity can lower the risk of Parkinson's disease. Participants who spent more than six hours per week on household and commuting activities had a 43% lower risk of developing the disease.
Researchers found that Parkin triggers 'cellular suicide' in damaged nerve cells, depending on the degree of damage, and may help weed out faulty neurons. This discovery could lead to a new understanding of how Parkinson's disease arises.
Researchers created a cellular model of Parkinson's disease using human stem cells from identical twins with the disease. The study found that dopamine-producing neurons had reduced activity and higher levels of α-synuclein protein, which can be targeted for therapy.
Transplantation of stem-cell-derived dopamine neurons restores motor function in a rat model of Parkinson's disease, suggesting a viable alternative to existing treatments. The therapy demonstrates efficacy and potency similar to fetal neurons, paving the way for human clinical trials.
Researchers at the University of Copenhagen found that a high-fat diet can postpone signs of brain aging in mice with a defective DNA repair system. This could lead to new treatment possibilities for children with Cockayne syndrome and patients with Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
Researchers have discovered that inhibiting a particular mitochondrial fission protein could reverse Parkinson's Disease symptoms by reducing cell death and dopamine release deficits. This study offers exciting potential for an effective treatment and paves the way for future studies in this field.
Researchers have developed a method to deliver drugs more effectively for Alzheimer's and Parkinson's using micro and nanoparticles. Encapsulated growth factors have been found to be much more effective than traditional oral medications in animal trials, improving symptoms and healing damaged zones.
Researchers found that deacetylase inhibitors can fully restore movement problems caused by the LRRK2 Parkinson's mutation in fruit flies. This study provides compelling evidence for a direct link between defective transport and movement problems, suggesting a potential therapy for people with this specific mutation.
The Braak hypothesis suggests that Parkinson's disease begins in the digestive tract and spreads to the brain. Researchers at Lund University have now found direct evidence of this process, tracking the spread of alpha-synuclein protein from the gut to the brain in rat models.
Researchers have made a groundbreaking discovery about the similarities and differences between two neurodegenerative diseases, progressive supranuclear palsy and Parkinson's Disease. The study reveals that individuals with PSP experience more severe cognitive impairments than those with PD early on.
Researchers at UCLA have discovered that the drug AT2101 improves motor function, stops inflammation, and reduces alpha-synuclein levels in mouse models of Parkinson's disease. This finding suggests that further investigation into the compound's potential for treating Parkinson's is warranted.
Researchers have observed a significant increase in Antarctic sea ice extent, reaching a new record high. This upward trend is an exception to the overall decline of sea ice globally.
University of Michigan scientists are launching a five-year effort to better understand the cause of falls in Parkinson's patients and find new options based on brain science. The Udall Center of Excellence will focus on the cholinergic system, which helps regulate attention and balance.
Sok Kean Khoo, a GVSU researcher, has received a $110,000 grant from the Michael J. Fox Foundation to study molecular biomarkers for Parkinson's disease. The goal is to develop a blood test for early detection and potentially improve treatment options for the incurable neurological disorder.
Researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center identified brain networks that can help guide site selection for brain stimulation therapies. The findings suggest that stimulating sites in the same connected brain network can improve treatment outcomes across multiple neurological and psychiatric disorders.
A new study finds that people with middle-age migraines are more likely to develop Parkinson's disease and other movement disorders. Those with migraine with aura face a higher risk, with women also being more prone to a family history of the condition.
Research suggests that a high-fat diet can accelerate neurological symptoms in mice genetically predisposed to Parkinson's disease. This diet also causes damage in the brain and affects glucose and insulin regulation.
Baicalin inhibits iron accumulation after substantia nigra injury by down-regulating divalent metal transporter 1 and increasing ferroportin 1 expression. This study suggests baicalin as a potential therapeutic agent for Parkinson's disease prevention.
Researchers at Duke Medicine report that implanting deep brain stimulation devices poses no greater risk of complications to older patients with Parkinson's disease. In a study analyzing over 1,750 patients, the team found that increasing age did not significantly affect overall complication rates.
A recent study analyzing data from over 1,700 patients found that the complication risk of deep brain stimulation (DBS) is similar for both older and younger Parkinson disease patients. The results suggest that age should no longer be a rigid exclusion criterion for DBS candidates.
A new Penn Medicine study found that dopamine replacement therapy is associated with an increase in impulse control disorders and excessive daytime sleepiness in newly diagnosed Parkinson's disease patients. In contrast, fatigue improved with dopamine therapy, but depression remained undertreated.
Compound Formula Rehmannia alleviates levodopa-induced dyskinesia in Parkinson's disease by modulating neurotransmitter signaling in the corpus striatum. This finding suggests a potential new treatment for this debilitating condition.
Researchers at Max Planck Institute show that supplying D-lactate or glycolate, two products of the gene DJ-1, can restore mitochondrial activity and prevent neuron degeneration in Parkinson's disease. These substances may also have a general role in protecting cells from decline.
Researchers found that naltrexone reduced symptoms of compulsive gambling and other behaviors in PD patients. The medication may help alleviate these issues due to dopamine agonist treatment, not necessarily a result of the disease itself.
Researchers analyzed data from over 18,000 patients to find more than two dozen genetic risk factors involved in Parkinson's disease, including six previously unknown. The study confirms that the more variants a person has, the greater their risk of developing the disorder.
Researchers at Emory University School of Medicine found that XPro1595 can protect vulnerable neurons and reduce motor deficits in a rat model of Parkinson's disease. The drug targets tumor necrosis factor, a critical inflammatory signaling molecule, and showed benefits when administered by subcutaneous injection.
Researchers at Albert Einstein College of Medicine are developing a drug discovery project targeting Parkinson's disease using a newly identified target and chaperone-mediated autophagy. The goal is to develop a prototype drug that can treat the underlying cause of the disease.
Researchers at The Feinstein Institute for Medical Research have identified a brain network that measures placebo effects in Parkinson's disease patients. This breakthrough discovery has the potential to improve the accuracy of clinical trials by excluding subjects who are more likely to experience placebo effects.
Researchers have identified a distinct neurological profile associated with patients who respond favorably to sham surgery, but not those who are part of the placebo group. This new finding may help better identify efficacious treatments and limit the impact of placebo effects in clinical trials.
A new Tel Aviv University study confirms that Parkinson's sufferers exhibit greater creative energy than healthy individuals. Researchers found that Parkinson's patients offered more original answers and thoughtful interpretations during testing.
Researchers found that ground cinnamon can reverse biomechanical changes in mice with Parkinson's disease by protecting neurons and normalizing neurotransmitter levels. Cinnamon is metabolized into sodium benzoate, an FDA-approved drug used to treat hepatic metabolic defects.
A study published in Neurology found that brisk walking improved motor function, mood, and tiredness by up to 15%, as well as increased aerobic fitness and gait speed. Participants who walked for 45 minutes, three times a week, over six months showed significant improvements in their symptoms.
Researchers have gained unprecedented insight into the NMDA receptor, a key player in learning and memory. The new 3D model provides vital clues for developing drugs to combat neurological diseases such as Alzheimer
Scientists have identified a genetic change that impairs protein transport in cells, potentially leading to nerve cell loss and Parkinson's disease. A VPS35 gene mutation is linked to the disease, affecting cargo proteins and their correct destinations.
A self-repairing mechanism known as neurogenesis partially counteracts neuronal loss in neurodegenerative diseases. Newborn neurons generated in the dentate gyrus integrate into brain circuitry, maintaining some functions at early stages of disease progression.
Researchers discovered that increased VMAT2 levels led to enhanced dopamine neurotransmission and protection from a neurotoxin. The study found improved outcomes on anxiety, depressive behaviors, movement, and protection from MPTP, a chemical causing Parkinson's disease-related damage.
Researchers at San Raffaele Scientific Institute developed a new method to convert fibroblasts into neurons, which improved motor function in rodents with parkinsonism. The study used technology that allowed the neurons to express engineered proteins and respond to specific drugs.
A team of researchers from the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine has developed new cell culture and mouse models to test immunotherapy for Parkinson's disease. By targeting distorted alpha-synuclein proteins, they prevented pathology development and reversed some effects of existing disease.
Researchers at the University of Oxford have developed a simple and quick MRI technique that can detect people with early-stage Parkinson's disease with 85% accuracy. The new approach uses resting-state fMRI to analyze brain connectivity in the basal ganglia, identifying those who are at risk before symptoms appear.
A new trial has found that levodopa is better than newer treatments for Parkinson's disease patients, particularly in terms of mobility and quality of life. The study, the largest ever performed on PD treatment, showed small but persistent benefits of starting treatment with levodopa.
Scientists found a strong association between REM sleep disturbance and the development of progressive brain diseases like Parkinson's and dementia. Longitudinal imaging data showed decreased dopamine transporter density in patients with REM sleep disorder, which marked the first hints of Parkinson's disease.
Researchers from Penn Medicine will present on the latest insights into Parkinson's disease, including new animal models that recapitulate alpha-synuclein pathologies. The findings highlight the complexity of the disease and potential avenues for treatment.
Researchers at McLean Hospital have found that transplanted fetal dopamine cells can remain healthy and functional for up to 14 years in patients with Parkinson's disease. The discovery could lead to new therapies using stem cells grown in labs, reducing symptoms and the need for dopamine replacement drugs.
A Rice University researcher is rebooting 'deep brain stimulation' technology to treat Parkinson's disease and other neurological disorders. The new technique uses embedded processors and real-time analytics to optimize results, potentially increasing effectiveness for a third of patients.