Parkinson’s Disease Research News

The results of a decade-long study are in: a new therapeutic target is found, and scientists manage to slow the progression of the disease in animals. ... read more

A new study reveals veterans who suffered a concussion are at a 56% increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. ... read more

People who have been diagnosed with a mild concussion, or mild traumatic brain injury, may have a 56 percent increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. ... read more

A reader recently asked me about an experimental drug called Ibudilast. It is a ‘Phosphodiesterase 4 inhibitor’. Recently there was a very interesting result in a clinical trial looking at Ibudilast in a specific neurodegenerative condition. Sadly for the reader that condition was not Parkinson’s, in fact ... read more

Researchers have found that large, fibrous aggregates thought to drive Lou Gehrig's disease might actually help to protect motor neurons. ... read more

Ursodeoxycholic acid (UDCA) has been proposed as a drug that could be repurposed for Parkinson’s. As a medication, it is called ‘Ursodiol‘ and it is used to treat gallstones. But there are absorption issues with UDCA: The passage of UDCA through the wall of the small intestine is slow and ... read more

Two new studies from researchers at USC provide fresh insight into Alzheimer's risks. Researchers say attending college can stave off dementia and help retain memories in old age. Additionally, researchers report reducing diabetes and hypertension after 50 could increase longevity in people with Alzheimer's disease. ... read more

Researchers report inflammation reactions can cause long term alterations to immune cells in the brain which can influence the progression of neurodegenerative disorders later in life. ... read more

A new study reveals the brain may reassign tasks to different regions of the brain in order to counter the onset of neurodegenerative diseases. ... read more

A new, large scale study reveals people who have experienced a traumatic brain injury have a significantly increased risk of developing dementia than those without a history of TBI. ... read more

Researchers report nitric oxide plays a key role in regulating neural function. The findings shed new light on how neurodegeneration may occur. ... read more

A new study links common genetic variants to both ALS and frontotemporal dementia. The findings could help in the development of treatment strategies for both disorders, researchers report. ... read more

A new study reveals antiepileptic drugs with side effects of impairing cognitive function can increase the risk of patients developing dementia and Alzheimer's disease. Additionally, the higher the dose of the medication used, the greater the risk of developing dementia, researchers report. ... read more

This is one of those posts that I am reluctant to write because there is the very real possibility of it being taken out of context and causing someone to panic. But several readers have asked me to address a new piece of research that was published this ... read more

(Johns Hopkins University) A new smartphone app allows Parkinson's disease patients and their doctors to better track the progression of symptoms, such as tremors and walking difficulties, that can vary dramatically over days, or even hours. ... read more

Please do not misread the title of this post! Compounds targeting the Nociceptin receptor (or NOP) could provide the Parkinson’s community with novel treatment options in the not-too-distant future. In pre-clinical models of Parkinson’s, compounds designed to block NOP have demonstrated neuroprotective properties, while drugs that stimulate NOP appear to ... read more

Looking at dopamine neurons in a tiny worm's brain, scientists have identified a novel pathway that sustains the health of these cells. The normal actions of swip-10 to protect dopamine neurons are indirect, derived from the gene's action in support cells called glia, adjacent to the dopamine neurons. Glial cells ... read more

(Trinity College Dublin) New research by scientists shows that when cellular barriers are exposed to metal nanoparticles, cellular messengers are released that may cause damage to the DNA of developing brain cells. The discovery may have implications for the development of potential drug targets in the treatment of neurodegenerative conditions, ... read more

A new study sheds light on why some people with Parkinson's disease binge eat. Researchers report working memory impairment and alterations in reward sensitivity could be behind why binge eating can be problematic in those with Parkinson's. ... read more

(University of Kent) Cell discovery could help with research on genetic diseases Research carried out by the University of Kent has discovered the first data on an organelle that is really important in human cells in an ancient organism distantly related to humans.The discovery will enable scientists to study the ... read more

(Society of Nuclear Medicine and Molecular Imaging) Researchers have developed a new PET imaging agent that could help guide and assess treatments for people with various neurological diseases, including Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, and multiple sclerosis. The agent targets receptors in nerve cells in the brain that are involved in learning and ... read more

At the end of each month the SoPD writes a post which provides an overview of some of the major pieces of Parkinson’s-related research that were made available during March 2018. The post is divided into four parts based on the type of research (Basic biology, disease mechanism, ... read more

There has been a lot of discussion on this site (and elsewhere on the web) regarding the need for more objective systems of measuring Parkinson’s – particularly in the setting of clinical trials. Yes, subjective reports of patient experience are important, but they can easily be biased by ... read more

(Kazan Federal University) As the paper posits, there is currently no doubt that hyperpolarization of mitochondria and concomitant oxidative stress are associated with the development of serious pathologies, such as Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autoimmune syndromes, some cancers, and other conditions. Hyperpolarized mitochondria have an elevated transmembrane potential because of ... read more

(University of Erlangen-Nuremberg) A groundbreaking project for Parkinson's patients from the European Institute of Innovation and Technology Health (EIT Health) titled 'MoveIT' has now been launched under the lead of the Molecular-Neurological Department at Universitätsklinikum Erlangen in collaboration with researchers from Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg and other European partners. Using telemedicine based ... read more