Parkinson's Disease

A new study has opened up a promising pathway for Parkinson's treatment, pinpointing a protein that plays a regulatory role in the neurodegeneration associated with the condition, and showing how it can be inhibited to protect brain cells from damage.

Building on a growing body of evidence linking viral infections with neurodegenerative disease, a study has shown how molecules on the surfaces of viruses can promote the aggregation of toxic proteins seen with diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.

Two new studies are building on a hypothesis that multiple sclerosis (MS) can be triggered by viral infections in a person’s teenage years. The research raises concerns the current COVID-19 pandemic could lead to a surge in MS cases in the future.

For decades surgeons have been using deep brain stimulation to treat severe Parkinson's disease. Now researchers have found a way to deliver it more precisely, resulting in the benefits lasting four times longer in animal models.

Lab-grown mini-brains can help us crack the puzzle of our own minds. Scientists have made a major breakthrough by growing mini-brains with the pathological features of Parkinson’s disease for the first time, paving the way towards better treatments.

After years of preclinical work researchers have announced a new drug treatment for dementia is ready to move to human trials. Animal studies have shown the drug to improve cognition and reduce signs of neurodegeneration in several dementia-causing diseases.

A study is reporting a blood-based biomarker can detect the presence of 13 neurodegenerative disorders, from dementia to motor neuron disease, and determine whether those with depression are suffering from the early stages of neurodegenerative disease.

Getting drugs into the brain is no easy feat, but the nose is one of the most direct routes. Now, UK researchers have developed a nasal spray hydrogel that lines the tissue in the nose to deliver a common Parkinson’s drug straight to the brain.

Scientists focusing on the possibility of diagnosing Parkinson's via the skin have made a significant discovery, finding that swabs can be used to distinguish patients from healthy controls with an accuracy of 85 percent.

A pair of newly published studies are offering novel insights into how the neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson’s disease leads to cognitive decline. The research suggests minor vision problems can precede cognitive decline by up to 18 months.

A robust new study has comprehensively demonstrated how SARS-CoV-2, the coronavirus that causes COVID-19, can infect the brain and central nervous system. The study validates a growing body of research attributing neurological issues to COVID-19.

Parkinson’s disease is characterized by clumps of misfolded proteins accumulating and killing brain cells. Johns Hopkins researchers have developed an artificial enzyme that may stop these clumps from spreading, providing a new potential treatment.