New Imaging Shows Brain Structures Affected by Parkinson’s Disease
A new magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) technique allows scientists to see what was previously theorized – the degeneration of two brain structures affected by Parkinson’s disease. Developed at MIT a technique which combines several types of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), could allow doctors to better monitor patients’ progression and track the effectiveness of potential new […]
Read MoreNeurologists Tend to Underdiagnose Depression and Cognitive Problems in Patients With Parkinson’s Disease
Non-motor symptoms in Parkinson’s Disease (PD) generally tend to be under-diagnosed compared to motor problems. Some studies have compared different instruments to diagnose cognitive impairment (CI) and depression in PD, but few have studied how accurate the diagnostic process is in normal daily practice. A new study in BMC Neurology, compared neurologists assessments versus validated […]
Read MoreTransdermal Patch for Parkinson’s
US Food and Drug Administration has approved a rotigotine transdermal system for the treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and restless legs syndrome (RLS). [More…]
Read MoreWidespread Brain Atrophy Detected in Parkinson’s Disease
According to a study published in Archives of Neurology, atrophy in the hippocampus, the region of the brain known for memory formation and storage, is evident in Parkinson’s disease (PD) patients with cognitive impairment, including early decline known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI). [More…]
Read MoreBlood Test Diagnoses Parkinson’s Disease
A new research report appearing in the December issue of the FASEB Journal shows how scientists from the United Kingdom have developed a simple blood test to detect Parkinson’s disease even at the earliest stages. The test is possible because scientists found a substance in the blood, called “phosphorylated alpha-synuclein,” which is common in people with Parkinson’s […]
Read MoreReorganization of Motor System in Parkinson’s Disease
A study in European Neurology suggests that the human brain in Parkinson’s Disease(PD) tries to compensate for the failure of the basal ganglia motor loop by employing alternative (ipsilateral) motor pathways, indicating that a complex reorganization can also take place in disorders like PD which affect the whole motor–related network.[Read more…]
Read MoreNew Imaging Test Gives Physicians A Tool to Diagnose Parkinson’s Disease
A new diagnostic imaging technique, gives physicians the first objective test to evaluate patients for Parkinsonian syndromes, such as Parkinson’s disease. Northwestern Memorial Hospital is among the first institutions in the country to offer DaTscan™, the only FDA-approved imaging agent for assessment of movement disorders. “The scan by itself does not make the diagnosis of […]
Read MoreGene Therapy Shows Promise in Treating Parkinson’s in Humans
A study aimed at the treatment of patients with medically refractory Parkinson’s disease (PD), showed promising phase 2 results for a therapeutic approach to determine the safety and efficacy of AAV-GAD gene transfer into the subthalamic nucleus (STN) region of the brain. The overall goal of this approach is to normalize the activity of the […]
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