Neurodegenerative Disease News and Research

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Gene therapy offers hope for children born with metachromatic leukodystrophy

If administered early, gene therapy has the potential to change the medical history of children born with metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD), a rare and lethal neurodegenerative disease of genetic origin which leads to the progressive loss of the ability to walk, talk and interact.

25 Apr 2025

New approach may prevent neurotoxic protein aggregates in ALS

Researchers at Goethe University, Johannes Gutenberg University Mainz and Kiel University discover possible method for preventing protein aggregates – Cluster4Future PROXIDRUGS research project.

23 Apr 2025

Researchers identify gene targets that may protect against Alzheimer’s

A study published in the American Journal of Human Genetics by researchers at Baylor College of Medicine and the Jan and Dan Duncan Neurological Research Institute (Duncan NRI) at Texas Children's Hospital provides solutions to the pressing need to identify factors that influence Alzheimer's disease (AD) risk or resistance while providing an avenue to explore potential biological markers and therapeutic targets.

17 Apr 2025

Stem cell therapy shows promise for treating advanced Parkinson's disease

A stem cell–based therapy initially developed at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) may lead to a new treatment for advanced Parkinson's disease, according to results from a phase 1 clinical trial reported in Nature.

16 Apr 2025

Digital technology use linked to lower risk of cognitive decline

As the first generation that interacted with digital technology reaches an age where dementia risks emerge, scientists have asked the question: Is there a correlation between digital technology use and an increased risk of dementia?

15 Apr 2025

AI tool maps misfolded proteins linked to Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s

A novel artificial intelligence (AI) tool has revealed how disease-linked proteins misfold into harmful structures, a key advance in understanding neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's.

15 Apr 2025

Northwestern scientists identify key genes behind Parkinson's development

A longstanding mystery in Parkinson's disease research has been why some individuals carrying pathogenic variants that increase their risk of PD go on to develop the disease, while others who also carry such variants do not.

11 Apr 2025

Researchers explore drug repurposing strategy for Parkinson's disease

Despite significant advances in Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment, it remains incurable, with limited therapeutic options.

10 Apr 2025

Experimental drug NU-9 shows promise for Alzheimer's and ALS treatment

Experimental drug NU-9 - a small molecule compound approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical trials for the treatment of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) - improves neuron health in animal models of Alzheimer's disease, according to a new Northwestern University study.

8 Apr 2025

Researchers identify key gene linked to heroin addiction

Opioid use disorder is associated with more than 350,000 deaths annually worldwide. Guided by the need for an increased understanding of critical neurobiological features of addiction, researchers have now found a unique molecular signature and genes in the orbitofrontal cortex associated with heroin-seeking behavior.

26 Mar 2025

Smell-based test taken at home could predict cognitive impairment in older adults

When it comes to early detection of cognitive impairment, a new study suggests that the nose knows. Researchers from Mass General Brigham developed olfactory tests-in which participants sniff odor labels that have been placed on a card-to assess people's ability to discriminate, identify and remember odors.

24 Mar 2025

Deep sleep may protect against neurodegeneration

Sleep disturbances may accelerate neurodegeneration, but whether they cause or result from disease remains unclear. Improving sleep quality could help protect against cognitive decline and brain aging.

20 Mar 2025

Better heart health slows brain aging and lowers dementia risk, study finds

A JAMA Network Open study finds that better cardiovascular health (CVH) in older adults is linked to lower levels of neurodegenerative biomarkers, particularly neurofilament light chain (NfL). These benefits are consistent across races and especially impactful for individuals carrying Alzheimer's-related genetic risks.

16 Mar 2025

Groundbreaking stem cell therapy trial for Alzheimer's disease underway at UTHealth Houston

A stem cell therapy trial aimed at reducing neuroinflammation in patients with presymptomatic Alzheimer's disease is underway at UTHealth Houston.

14 Mar 2025

WEHI team makes major strides in the fight against Parkinson's disease

WEHI researchers have made a huge leap forward in the fight against Parkinson's disease, solving a decades-long mystery that paves the way for development of new drugs to treat the condition.

14 Mar 2025

Parkinson’s disease will affect 25 million people by 2050, study warns

Global Parkinson’s disease cases are projected to more than double to 25.2 million by 2050, driven largely by aging populations and socio-demographic factors. The sharpest increases are expected in Sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia, with men disproportionately affected.

13 Mar 2025

Switching from butter to plant-based oils linked to lower mortality risk

Researchers compare how the consumption of butter or plant-based oil impacts total and cause-specific mortality.

11 Mar 2025

Study reveals how silent X chromosome enhances female brain resilience

In a surprise, work in mice has found that the dormant X chromosome in females can reawaken late in life and turn on genes that keep the brain healthy.

6 Mar 2025

St. Jude researchers improve brain disease diagnosis with PET imaging and ALS drug

Positron emission tomography (PET) is a nuclear imaging technique used to diagnose conditions such as cancer. An innovative advance from scientists at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital is enhancing the technique's ability to check for signs of neurological disease.

6 Mar 2025

Stress granules as potential biomarkers for neurodegenerative diseases

Stress granules (SGs) are transient organelles that form when cells experience stress, serving as critical hubs for RNA metabolism and cellular survival.

3 Mar 2025