Parkinson’s Research News

Researchers are gaining new insights into neurological diseases by studying circular RNAs (circRNAs) in brain cells. A new study has identified over 11,000 distinct RNA circles that characterized brain cells implicated in Parkinson's disease and Alzheimer's disease. ... read more

A new study challenges a common belief in what triggers Parkinson's disease. Degeneration of dopaminergic neurons is widely accepted as the first event that leads to Parkinson's. But the new study suggests that a dysfunction in the neuron's synapses leads to deficits in dopamine and precedes the neurodegeneration. The findings open a new avenue for therapies in which drugs target ... read more

Contrary to the widely held belief that Parkinson’s disease originates from the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons, a new study suggests a precursor: synaptic dysfunction. This revelation unveils the dysfunction of dopaminergic synapses prior to neurodegeneration. ... read more

Adults over 60, who engage in more than 10 hours of sedentary behavior daily, have a heightened risk of dementia. The study revealed that the pattern of sedentary behavior throughout the day mattered less than the total hours spent. ... read more

New research points to the possibility that the development of a pathobiome in the brain could play a role in Alzheimer's and related dementias. Studying brain samples, researchers discovered Alzheimer’s-affected brains had markedly different bacterial profiles compared to non-affected peers. ... read more

Researchers have identified a new pathological mechanism for a familial type of Parkinson's disease caused by a mutation in the CHCHD2 gene. Mutant CHCHD2 protein is mislocalized in cells and leads to alpha-synuclein protein aggregates via interactions with another protein, known as Csnk1e/d. These findings indicate that Csnk1e/d inhibition may slow or halt Parkinson's disease development in patients with CHCHD2 ... read more

A new artificial intelligence tool can help people with Parkinson's disease remotely assess the severity of their symptoms within minutes. While expert neurologists performed slightly better than the AI model, the AI model outperformed the primary care physicians with UPDRS certification. ... read more

Researchers shed light on the puzzle of Parkinson’s disease progression. They discovered that a mutated version of the α-synuclein protein moves through the brain's lymphatic system, known as the glymphatic system, before aggregating. ... read more

Researchers identified a new form of cell death, termed ferroptosis, in Alzheimer’s disease and vascular dementia. This process involves the destruction of microglia cells—brain immune cells—due to the accumulation of iron. ... read more

Researchers have developed a blood test that detects Parkinson's disease, potentially establishing a way to help diagnose the condition before nervous system damage worsens. A new blood-based diagnostic test would be a major advancement for Parkinson's disease, which afflicts 10 million people worldwide and is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer's. ... read more

Researchers identified a gene allele, known as DR4, that offers more than a 10% average reduction in the risk of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. The study, involving hundreds of thousands of people from various ancestries, suggests a potential role of the tau protein in both conditions. ... read more

Researchers will explore how light physical activities like walking can affect cognition in older adults at risk for Alzheimer's or related dementias. Unlike previous studies that focused on the total amount of light activity, the research will examine day-to-day variations in light physical activity. ... read more

Researchers are probing into REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), a condition where people physically act out their dreams. This parasomnia is more than a nocturnal hazard: research indicates a strong link between RBD and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s. ... read more

Dancing offers Parkinson’s patients more than physical rehabilitation; it provides a transformative avenue for personal identity and self-expression. Researchers discovered that participating in a dance company can profoundly influence the disease-related identity negotiation in individuals with Parkinson’s. ... read more

New research posits that particular gastrointestinal issues may be precursors to Parkinson's disease. Utilizing a vast US medical record network, the study contrasted people diagnosed with Parkinson’s against those with Alzheimer’s, cerebrovascular disease, or none of these conditions. ... read more

Researchers unveiled a promising link between adult education and reduced dementia risk. The study analyzed data from the UK Biobank, finding that individuals involved in adult education courses had a 19% decreased chance of developing dementia. ... read more

For years, Parkinson's has been labeled a brain disorder. However, intriguing research hints at its origins not in the brain, but the gut. ... read more

Many researchers believe that the neurodegenerative disorder gets started in the gut. Research now suggests that an autoimmune reaction may be driving those early events. ... read more

A startling study unveils a critical deficiency in the U.S. healthcare infrastructure: about 1 in 4 older Americans with dementia or cognitive impairments live solo, confronting increased hazards such as unsafe driving, medication mishaps, and overlooked medical appointments. This issue looms large, especially when juxtaposed against the backdrop of an aging demographic that's set to exponentially grow. ... read more

A new study identified markers in eye scans which can detect the presence of Parkinson’s disease an average of seven years before clinical presentation. This research, the largest of its kind, utilized artificial intelligence to analyze retinal imaging, revealing these early indicators of Parkinson's. ... read more

Researchers discovered a potential link between "endogenous retroviruses" present in the human genome and the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Their study found that these ancient viral remnants might influence the spread of protein aggregates commonly associated with certain dementias. ... read more

Researchers have discovered that age-related cognitive decline is most pronounced in the brain's white matter, crucial for signal transmission. This study in mice sheds light on aging's contribution to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer's and Parkinson's. ... read more

Researchers enabled machine learning to accurately predict Parkinson's disease subtypes using stem cell images. This breakthrough showcases computer models classifying four Parkinson’s subtypes, with top accuracies reaching 95%. ... read more

Long-term use (over 4.4 years) of proton pump inhibitors, prescribed for acid reflux, may be associated with an increased risk of dementia. However, this research does not establish a direct causation but reveals an association. ... read more

Researchers identified a potential link between playing tackle football and an increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In a study using a large online dataset, participants with a history of playing organized tackle football showed a 61% heightened odds of PD diagnosis. ... read more