Parkinson’s
Lewy bodies are a hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD) and other related neurological conditions. Understanding why and how they develop is critical to developing better treatments. A study from The Neuro (Montreal Neurological Institute-Hospital) of McGill University, in collaboration with its Early Drug Discovery Unit, has recreated the growth of Lewy bodies in human neurons [...]
Researchers have found that a molecule in the brain – ophthalmic acid – unexpectedly acts like a neurotransmitter similar to dopamine in regulating motor function, offering a new therapeutic target for Parkinson’s and other movement diseases. Researchers observed that ophthalmic acid binds to and activates calcium-sensing receptors in the brain, reversing the movement impairments of [...]
Researchers in the US are investigating whether changes in the eye may indicate early signs of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's. A new study at NYU Langone Health will apply a novel eye-imaging technology called visible-light optical coherence tomography (OCT) to detect biomarkers of neurodegenerative disease. It has been backed by US$1.6m in grant funding from the [...]
A Parkinson’s UK led consortium will harness the power of big data to accelerate new treatment options in its pioneering Landmark project, which aims to unlock a cure for Parkinson’s. Landmark is a three-year research programme which aims to understand Parkinson’s Disease in more detail. The project will bring together Parkinson’s UK, Imperial College London [...]
A team of scientists has identified a new genetic mutation that may cause a form of early-onset Parkinsonism. The mutation, located in a gene called SGIP1, was discovered in an Arab family with a history of Parkinson's symptoms that began at a young age. The study reveals that this mutation affects how brain cells communicate, [...]
A new study has shown that people who have a history of upper gastrointestinal damage have a 76 per cent higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease later in life. Typically, Parkinson's disease has been thought to originate in the brain, however, recent research has stipulated the gut-first hypothesis of Parkinson's disease which suggests that people [...]
A new three-year research programme, bringing together charities, universities and global pharmaceutical giants, is aiming to understand Parkinson's in unprecedented detail. The Landmark project brings together Parkinson’s UK, Imperial College London, GSK, Novartis, Roche and UCB for the first time, and is backed by £4m from the Gatsby charitable foundation. Parkinson’s is the fastest growing [...]
A novel drug molecule could potentially lead to new treatments to prevent Parkinson’s disease in younger patients, according to new research. While Parkinson’s symptoms — slowed movements, tremors and balance problems — often appear in people in their 60s, five to 10 per cent of people are diagnosed before they turn 40. A new study [...]
An NHS England programme announced this week will help to protect people with Parkinson's from potential harm associated with poor access to time critical medication, campaigners say. NHS England has committed to a three year Medicines Safety Improvement Programme focused on time critical medication. The move follows a long campaign from charity Parkinson's UK over [...]
Researchers have developed a new method for detecting protein aggregation in cells – a hallmark of Parkinson's disease. The technology can enable diagnosis up to 20 years before the first motor symptoms appear, facilitating treatment or even prevention of the severe disease which is currently incurable. The novel approach is based on super-resolution microscopy combined [...]
