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Parkinson's & Movement disorders news

Genetics

New genetic test targets elusive cause of rare movement disorder

Scientists at Brigham and Women's Hospital and Harvard Medical School have developed a targeted genetic test to improve diagnosis for X-linked dystonia-parkinsonism (XDP), a rare and disabling movement disorder that affects ...

Neuroscience

Drug candidate slows motor neuron disease progression and preserves muscle function in preclinical study

A drug candidate found to protect nerve cells damaged by motor neuron disease (MND), could offer new hope to people living with the devastating condition.

Neuroscience

Removing toxic proteins before they can damage motor neurons

University of Wollongong (UOW) scientists have developed a breakthrough therapy that clears toxic proteins from nerve cells—a discovery that advances the work of the late Professor Justin Yerbury and could transform the ...

Parkinson's & Movement disorders

Personalized care can ease Parkinson's pain

Every 27 minutes, someone in Australia is diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. Best known for its tremors, movement and balance issues, it also brings another, often overlooked burden—persistent pain.

Neuroscience

New electrical signature of Parkinson's disease identified

What happens in the brain when a person experiences the characteristic movement symptoms of Parkinson's disease? Researchers around the world are seeking answers through various approaches. One of these builds on a treatment ...

Genetics

Common genetic causes across motor neuron diseases identified

Motor neuron diseases, such as amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and hereditary spastic paraplegia (HSP), share physical similarities but have been largely viewed as genetically distinct. However, an analysis led by investigators ...

Parkinson's & Movement disorders

Advancement for people with Parkinson's in light therapy trial

Australian-founded medical technology company SYMBYX today announced compelling results from a 72-week randomized controlled trial (RCT) demonstrating improvements in a range of Parkinson's disease symptoms. These results, ...

Neuroscience

Burden of pain significantly higher in Parkinson's patients

A major QIMR Berghofer-led study has found that Australians living with Parkinson's disease are nearly three times more likely to suffer from chronic pain compared to the general community, with two-thirds of patients experiencing ...

Neuroscience

How fruit flies can help us understand diseases such as ALS

If we can understand exactly how neurodegenerative diseases such as ALS progress in fruit flies, we may also gain valuable insights into how these diseases develop in humans. Research by neurobiologist Marije Been of Radboud ...

Medications

Promising Parkinson's drug decoded

How well our brain functions depends heavily on the performance of our nerve cells. That is why they are regularly checked for their proper function—defective cell components are marked, disposed of and recycled. This includes ...

Diseases, Conditions, Syndromes

What you should know about ALS, also known as Lou Gehrig's disease

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS)—known as Lou Gehrig's Disease, based on the iconic 1930s New York Yankee baseball player—is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects thousands of Americans every year. ALS ...

Parkinson's & Movement disorders

Detecting Parkinson's disease with a simple retinal exam

Could it be possible to diagnose Parkinson's disease with the help of a simple retinal exam? The idea should be seriously considered, according to a study published in the May issue of Neurobiology of Disease by researchers ...

Genetics

Damaged cell 'trash cans' may contribute to Parkinson's disease

Scientists have uncovered more than 20 genes whose mutations cause familial forms of Parkinson's disease. One of these genes is known as VPS13C, and mutations in this gene may contribute to the disease's onset by causing ...