Parkinson’s Disease Research News

(University of North Carolina Health Care) For the first time, scientists have figured out why drugs that aim to treat Parkinson's disease, migraines, pituitary tumors, and obesity activate the serotonin receptor 5-HT2B to cause life-threatening heart problems. Published in Nature Structure & Molecular Biology, this research provides drug developers with ... read more

  Today’s post discusses some interesting new research that could potentially have ‘blue sky’ implications for the treatment of Parkinson’s (‘blue sky‘ meaning somewhere in the longer-term framework).   The research deals with the amazing activity of a newly discovered protein, isolated from tiny little fish. The protein responds to ... read more

  It is one of the most frequent non-motor features of Parkinson’s and yet it is one of the least publicly discussed. The word ‘constipation’ is generally used to describe bowel movements that are infrequent or difficult to pass. The stool is often dry, lumpy and hard, and problematic to ... read more

The eyes may be a window to the brain for people with early Parkinson's disease. People with the disease gradually lose brain cells that produce dopamine, a substance that helps control movement. Now a new study has found that the thinning of the retina, the lining of nerve cells in ... read more

(American Academy of Neurology) The eyes may be a window to the brain for people with early Parkinson's disease. People with the disease gradually lose brain cells that produce dopamine, a substance that helps control movement. Now a new study has found that the thinning of the retina, the lining ... read more

A slate of guidelines to shape the future of Parkinson's biomarker research have been published. ... read more

Researchers have identified specific brain networks that helps us associate objects with their names. The study sheds light on how the brain connects meaning to words and could help explain why people with neurodegenerative diseases often have problems naming every day objects. ... read more

An aquarium fish that senses the Earth's magnetic field as it swims could help unlock how the human brain works and how diseases such as Parkinson's and other neurological disorders function. Scientists have discovered a navigational gene in glass catfish called the electromagnetic-perceptive gene, or EPG, that responds to certain ... read more

Studying the exomes of 6,000 Alzheimer's patients and 5,000 without the disease, researchers have identified new rare variations in genes that may contribute to dementia. ... read more

(Michigan State University) An aquarium fish that senses the Earth's magnetic field as it swims could help unlock how the human brain works and how diseases such as Parkinson's and other neurological disorders function. Michigan State University scientists are the first to discover a navigational gene in glass catfish called ... read more

  The Parkinson’s research community is currently drowning in data related to genetics. It feels like every time one comes up for air, there is a new study highlighting not one, but half a dozen novel genetic variants associated with an increased risk of developing the condition. This week alone, ... read more

  In March of 2017, activists all over the world celebrated the 30th anniversary of ACT UP. ACT UP was an international direct action advocacy group that was set up to help people with Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections and acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS), and more importantly to encourage legislation/policy, ... read more

A new study reports older adults who receive dialysis treatment for kidney disease have an increased risk of being diagnosed with dementia. ... read more

Biological markers responsible for extreme exhaustion in patients with cancer have now been linked to fatigue in those with Parkinson's disease, according to new research. ... read more

(Rice University) Biological markers responsible for extreme exhaustion in patients with cancer have now been linked to fatigue in those with Parkinson's disease, according to new research from Rice University. ... read more

A new study reveals a considerable link between three common eye diseases and an increased risk of developing Alzheimer's disease. Researchers believe their findings could help physicians better detect those at risk of developing dementia. ... read more

A new study, which involved a small sample of former professional athletes, found no evidence of early onset dementia. ... read more

Many members of the Parkinson’s community will have heard of deep brain stimulation – a surgical procedure that is offered to individuals with particularly bad tremor or dyskinesias – but there is now another form of stimulation that is now being tested in people with PD. Spinal cord ... read more

Neuroscientists have uses a Pavlovian model of conditioning to see if turning on a light -- a simple cue -- just before dopamine neurons were activated could motivate action. ... read more

(IOS Press) Almost two-thirds of non-diabetic patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) may be insulin resistant, despite having normal blood sugar, report scientists in the Journal of Parkinson's Disease. Their findings suggest that insulin resistance in PD is a common and largely undetected problem, especially in patients who are overweight. ... read more

Parkinson’s is a neurodegenerative condition. This means that cells in the brain are being lost over time. Any ‘cure’ for Parkinson’s is going to require some form of cell replacement therapy – introducing new cells that can replace those that were lost. Cell transplantation represents one approach to ... read more

(IOS Press) Non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), such as depression, apathy, cognitive impairment, sleep disorders, and sensory symptoms, can have a greater impact on health-related quality of life than motor deficits. In a post hoc analysis of the exenatide-PD trial results, investigators found that patients on exenatide treatment experienced ... 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 July 2018. The post is divided into five parts based on the type of research (Basic biology, disease mechanism, ... read more

A sensor array that detects volatile molecules in exhaled breath has potential as a tool for detecting early-stage Parkinson's disease. ... read more

A new study reveals middle aged people who experience lightheadedness or dizziness upon standing, as a result of a sudden drop of blood pressure, may face a higher risk of developing dementia as they age. ... read more