Researchers have identified a new neural circuit in the brain which produces a strong sense of discomfort when activated. The discovery also allows them to show for the first time that the subthalamic nucleus, a structure in the brain that controls voluntary movements, may also play a role in the development of depression. The results… Read More »
Could Synapse Dysfunction Be the Key?
Parkinson’s disease, a common neurological ailment, affects 1% to 2% of the global population. It is distinguished by a variety of motor symptoms, including resting tremors, rigidity, and slowness of movement. These symptoms are caused by the slow death of dopaminergic neurons in a region of the brain known as the substantia nigra pars compacta… Read More »
Newly discovered trigger of Parkinson’s upends common beliefs
A new Northwestern Medicine 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 — the tiny gap across which a neuron can send an impulse to another… Read More »
New blood test detects a key indicator of Parkinson’s disease
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. Led by a… Read More »
Eye scans detect signs of Parkinson’s disease up to seven years before diagnosis — ScienceDaily
Markers that indicate the presence of Parkinson’s disease in patients on average seven years before clinical presentation have been identified by a UCL and Moorfields Eye Hospital research team. This is the first time anyone has shown these findings several years before diagnosis, and these results were made possible by the largest study to date… Read More »
Study adds to evidence that Parkinson’s starts in the gut
Ask any neurologist: Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder. The conspicuous symptoms of Parkinson’s disease — uncontrollable tremors, slowed down motions, and the feeling that one’s feet are stuck to the ground — all stem from the loss of neurons in a region of the brain that helps control movement. But many researchers believe that… Read More »
New study shows risk increases with more years of play, even in high school and college players — ScienceDaily
Identification of risk factors for Parkinson’s disease (PD) is essential for early diagnosis. Dating back to the 1920s, Parkinson’s disease and parkinsonism — an umbrella term that refers to motor symptoms found in Parkinson’s disease and also other conditions — have long been described in boxers. Repetitive head impacts from tackle football can also have… Read More »
Novel non-pharmacological and non-invasive treatment may offer significant relief to and restore gait function in patients with neurological disorders — ScienceDaily
Gait-related disturbances adversely affect the quality of life of patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD), a condition affecting millions worldwide. Although various pharmacological, surgical, and rehabilitative treatments exist, their effectiveness is limited. Now, a team of researchers from Japan has successfully addressed this limitation. Using a novel neuromodulation approach that incorporates gait-combined closed-loop transcranial electrical stimulation,… Read More »
Whether physical exertion feels ‘easy’ or ‘hard’ may be due to dopamine levels, study suggests — ScienceDaily
Dopamine, a brain chemical long associated with pleasure, motivation and reward-seeking, also appears to play an important role in why exercise and other physical efforts feel “easy” to some people and exhausting to others, according to results of a study of people with Parkinson’s disease led by Johns Hopkins Medicine researchers. Parkinson’s disease is marked… Read More »
Researchers identify three intestinal bacteria found in dementia with Lewy bodies — ScienceDaily
Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), one of the most common forms of dementia, has no cure. Previous studies suggested that gut bacteria, the microorganisms that live in the human digestive tract, play a role in Parkinson’s disease, another neurodegenerative disorder, but the bacteria involved in DLB had not been identified. Now, a group led by… Read More »
Air Pollution May Create U.S. ‘Hot Spots’ for Parkinson’s Risk
By Steven Reinberg HealthDay Reporter FRIDAY, Feb. 24, 2023 (HealthDay News) — People living in heavily polluted areas of the United States may be more vulnerable to Parkinson’s disease, a new study suggests. Specifically, the culprit is a type of air pollution called fine particulate matter (PM2.5), which is less than 2.5 microns in diameter… Read More »