Multiple System Atrophy News and Research

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Multiple-system atrophy (MSA) is a progressive neurological condition in which specific areas of the brain undergo neural degeneration. The three brain areas primarily affected are the brain stem, basal ganglia and cerebellum, portions of the brain that regulate bodily functions and motor control.

New drug candidate reduces toxic protein clumps of Huntington's disease

An experimental drug has been shown to alleviate symptoms of Huntington's disease and extend lifespan in mouse models. Further studies are required to determine whether these results may also apply to humans.

29 Jun 2026

Exhausted brain immune cells drive aggressive multiple system atrophy

A rare and fatal brain disorder with no available treatment or cure. One that attacks the nervous system, balance, and the ability to move.

18 May 2026

Small molecule may block protein buildup in neurodegenerative diseases

A team of researchers from NYU Abu Dhabi and the University of Denver have identified a promising small molecule that could help slow or halt the progression of serious brain diseases such as Parkinson's disease, offering new hope for treatments that go beyond managing symptoms.

1 Apr 2026

Brainstem nerve cells found to stabilize blood pressure fluctuations

Doctors usually focus on a person's average blood pressure, but research increasingly shows that how much blood pressure fluctuates from moment to moment is just as important.

19 Feb 2026

Can GLP-1 drugs slow neurodegeneration? New review finds promising signals but limited clinical proof

This review examines how GLP-1 receptor agonists may influence neurodegenerative disease biology through metabolic, inflammatory, mitochondrial, and proteostasis pathways. Evidence from mechanistic, preclinical, and early clinical studies suggests potential neuroprotective effects, but definitive disease-modifying benefit remains unproven.

17 Feb 2026

Women with isolated REM sleep behavior disorder show lesser brain atrophy than men

A large international study involving nearly 700 participants reveals that women with a precursor condition to Parkinson's disease show significantly less brain atrophy—decreased cortical thickness in the brain—than men, despite similar clinical severity.

21 Oct 2025

Immune system shows unique signature in Parkinson's patients

Parkinson's disease is best known for its effects on the central nervous system. In addition, recent scientific advances generally emphasize the role of the immune system in the presence and development of the disease.

28 May 2025

Study finds fewer H. pylori infections among Parkinson’s patients

A large case-control study from China found that people with Parkinson’s disease were significantly less likely to test positive for Helicobacter pylori infection compared to controls. The findings suggest a potential protective link between this common stomach bacterium and Parkinson’s disease, though causality remains unproven.

15 May 2025

PET scans reveal early signs of Parkinson’s and Lewy body disorders

In a comprehensive Genomic Press perspective article published today, researchers from Fudan University and Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine have highlighted remarkable advances in the development of positron emission tomography (PET) tracers capable of visualizing α-synuclein aggregates in the brains of patients with Parkinson's disease and related disorders.

29 Apr 2025

Study reveals high rate of diagnostic changes in Parkinson’s disease

A new study by the University of Turku and Turku University Hospital, Finland, found that a significant proportion of Parkinson's disease diagnoses are later corrected.

7 Apr 2025

U.S. launches national plan to tackle Parkinson's disease and related disorders

With support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) Office of the Assistant Secretary for Health (OASH), the National Institutes of Health (NIH) is leading the implementation of the Dr. Emmanuel Bilirakis and Honorable Jennifer Wexton National Plan to End Parkinson's Act (P.L. 118-66), which was signed into law on July 2, 2024.

17 Jan 2025

Penn-led consortium to advance imaging of brain diseases

A Penn Medicine-led consortium of radiology and chemistry researchers across the United States will advance imaging of diseases like Parkinson's by testing radiotracers they identified that illuminate α-synuclein (αSyn) or 4R tau proteins on positron emission tomography (PET) scans.

11 Dec 2024

New biomarker could help predict Parkinson’s disease progression

A team of researchers from the University of Barcelona and the Bellvitge Biomedical Research Institute (IDIBELL) has identified a potential biomarker of Parkinson's disease progression.

12 Nov 2024

Researchers link polyphosphate to protective role in neurodegenerative disease fibrils

Research led by the University of Michigan has provided compelling evidence that could solve a fundamental mystery in the makeup of fibrils that play a role in Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases

3 Nov 2024

Research uncovers potential role of polyphosphate in neurodegenerative diseases

Research led by the University of Michigan has provided compelling evidence that could solve a fundamental mystery in the makeup of fibrils that play a role in Alzheimer's, Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases.

1 Nov 2024

Novel antisense therapy targets α-synuclein pathologies in neurodegenerative diseases

TMDU researchers demonstrate proof of concept of antisense nucleic acid therapy to prevent the spread of α-synuclein pathologies in synucleinopathies.

25 Jul 2024

New study reveals the genetic cause of Parkinson's disease

According to Science Alert, neuroscientists from Johns Hopkins University have recently discovered a new treatment for Parkinson's disease using an FDA-approved cancer drug.

11 Jul 2024

New platform can deliver gene therapy precisely to specific areas of the brain

A novel approach to gene therapy is improving lives in ways once thought impossible. Researchers at The Ohio State University Wexner Medical Center and College of Medicine have developed a new platform to deliver the gene therapy precisely to specific areas of the brain.

18 Apr 2024

New treatments in sight for challenging neuropsychiatric symptoms in neurodegenerative diseases

Study reviews the advancements in pharmacological treatments for neuropsychiatric syndromes in neurodegenerative disorders, discussing the complexities of managing symptoms such as depression, disinhibition, apathy, psychosis, and agitation to improve patient care.

3 Apr 2024