Parkinson's Disease News and Research

Latest Parkinson's Disease News and Research

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

Timing of acetylcholine release determines if dopamine promotes movement or learning

Scientists have long-studied the role of dopamine, a chemical in the brain that helps control learning and movement, in order to better understand Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia, and depression-afflictions caused, in part, by a disruption or alteration of dopamine activity.

25 Mar 2026

Severe infections linked to higher dementia risk independent of coexisting illnesses

Severe infections increase the risk of dementia independently of other coexisting illnesses, according to a new study published March 24th in the open-access journal PLOS Medicine by Pyry Sipilä of the University of Helsinki, Finland, and colleagues.

24 Mar 2026

Walking patterns help distinguish Lewy body dementia from Parkinson’s

Doctors often struggle to distinguish early dementia with Lewy bodies from early Parkinson's disease.

24 Mar 2026

New nanoparticle system boosts scalable production of therapeutic exosomes

Researchers from Xi'an Jiaotong-Liverpool University (XJTLU) in China have developed a streamlined process that makes it easier to produce tiny therapeutic particles released by cells, called exosomes, which are being explored as a new type of medical treatment.

24 Mar 2026

Study identifies early risk factors for progressive supranuclear palsy

Progressive supranuclear palsy, or PSP, is a rare brain disease that causes problems with balance, eye movements and thinking. Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson recently passed away after living with the disease for more than a decade.

24 Mar 2026

New protein atlas identifies distinct subtypes of neurodegenerative diseases

Neurodegenerative diseases form a tangled biological web with overlapping molecular signatures and symptoms. To decode this complexity, a multi-institute collaboration led by St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists developed the pan-neurodegeneration atlas (PanNDA).

23 Mar 2026

Rest tremor in Parkinson’s linked to better-preserved dopamine function

A Finnish clinical imaging study shows that rest tremor in Parkinson's disease is not explained by greater dopamine loss.

23 Mar 2026

Scientists reveal how light-activated drugs change receptor activity

Rendering a drug effective or ineffective in a flash at the appropriate location – this is the focus of research in photopharmacology.

19 Mar 2026

Precise application of radio waves could help counter neurological conditions

A new study found that precise application of radio waves can change the activity of brain cells in ways that could counter neurological conditions.

18 Mar 2026

Newly identified protein regulates lysosome positioning and cellular metabolism

Lysosomes are the control centers for the metabolism of cells and tissues, including the brain. They break down defective proteins and other macromolecules into their basic building blocks.

18 Mar 2026

Scientists turn plastic waste into Parkinson’s drug levodopa using engineered bacteria

Researchers engineered a two-strain microbial system that converts PET-derived terephthalic acid into levodopa, overcoming key bottlenecks in transport and enzyme inhibition. The proof-of-concept process achieves high yields under mild conditions and demonstrates a potential route for upcycling plastic waste into valuable pharmaceuticals.

17 Mar 2026

New decision tool helps Parkinson’s patients consider deep brain stimulation

Deciding if and when to pursue deep brain stimulation (DBS) can be overwhelming for people with Parkinson's disease. While DBS is one of the most effective interventions for movement symptoms, it's also among the most complex.

16 Mar 2026

ISSCR launches education program on stem cell treatments for Parkinson's

The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announced the launch of Stem Cell Medicine: Parkinson's Disease, a new continuing education course designed to equip clinicians with an evidence-based understanding of emerging stem cell therapies for Parkinson's disease (PD).

12 Mar 2026

Marshall collaboration develops innovative tool for deep brain stimulation procedures

Marshall University and Marshall Health Network, in collaboration with Intermed Labs (IL), has launched a new medical technology development initiative focused on improving the precision and safety of deep brain stimulation (DBS) procedures.

12 Mar 2026

High fat diets allow gut bacteria to enter the brain via the vagus nerve

With more than 100 million neurons in the digestive tract, the gut is commonly known as the "second brain" in numerous cultures, including ancient Greece, Japan, China and India, linking digestion with physical and mental well-being.

12 Mar 2026

A longitudinal guide to early Parkinson’s progression

Critical Path Institute® (C-Path) applauds the publication of a new study in the Journal of Neurology that offers critical longitudinal insights into how symptoms and functional impacts evolve for individuals with early Parkinson's disease (PD).

10 Mar 2026

Using a smartwatch to detect changes in brain health

Can smartphones or smartwatches help detect early signs of neurological or mental illness? Researchers at the University of Geneva (UNIGE) monitored a group of participants wearing connected devices, and used artificial intelligence to analyze data such as heart rate, physical activity, sleep and air pollution.

10 Mar 2026

Scientists identify ANKIB1 as key regulator of innate immune signaling

Innate immune sensors – known as pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) – detect specific molecular components of bacterial or viral intruders.

6 Mar 2026

Detecting major neurological disorders via saliva

A team of Korean researchers has, for the first time in the world, developed a technology capable of enabling early diagnosis of major neurological disorders, including epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, and schizophrenia, using only a small amount of saliva.

5 Mar 2026