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Link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease points to potential therapeutic route (Missing bacteria to provide riboflavin and biotin)
	06/21/2024 7:05:25 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 8 replies Medical Xpress / Nagoya University / npj Parkinson's Disease ^ \| June 17, 2024 \| Hiroshi Nishiwaki et al A study has revealed a link between gut microbiota and Parkinson's disease (PD). The researchers found a reduction in the gut bacteria of genes responsible for synthesizing the essential B vitamins B2 and B7. They also identified a relationship between the lack of these genes and low levels of agents that help maintain the integrity of the intestinal barrier. This barrier prevents toxins from entering the bloodstream, which causes the inflammation seen in PD. Their findings suggest that treatment with B vitamins to address these deficiencies can be used to treat PD. In ideal conditions, gut microbiota produce SCFAs and...

Doctors reveal condition that could be behind Biden's bizarre 'freezing' events (Parkinson's)
	06/21/2024 4:50:23 AM PDT · by NetAddicted · 33 replies MSN ^ \| 6/18/2024 \| Dave Malyon The world has become increasingly fascinated by President Joe Biden’s age and health, with some even turning to doctors for snapshot appraisals of the 81-year-old president's ‘freezing’ episodes. Knewz.com has learned of one such opinion stemming from the inventor of the gold-standard cognitive test, Dr. Ziad Nasreddine. Speaking to theDaily Mail, Dr. Nasreddine noted that slurred speech is a symptom of Parkinson's disease and is brought on by disrupted secretions of brain hormones responsible for movement. The latter was broached in the context of Biden’s numerous erroneous speech and movement episodes—and sometimes the complete lack thereof. The last such occurrence...

Coffee Linked To Reduced Parkinson's Risk
	05/16/2024 9:54:20 PM PDT · by SeekAndFind · 8 replies Epoch Times ^ \| 05/16/2024 \| George Citroner Your morning cup of joe may be doing more than just giving you an energy boost to tackle the day. New evidence suggests that the caffeine in your brew could pack an extra punch by reducing your risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.(Shutterstock)Findings Suggest Caffeine May Reduce Parkinson’s Risk by 40 PercentWhile previous research highlighted caffeine’s benefits like increased energy and enhanced cognitive performance, a recent study in Neurology adds to the evidence that caffeine may help prevent Parkinson’s disease, a progressive movement disorder.The new study examined coffee intake and future Parkinson’s risk in 184,024 participants across six European countries.Unlike prior...

Stool transplant shows promise for Parkinson's disease (“Significant improvement” in motor skills)
	04/06/2024 8:12:45 AM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 35 replies Medical Xpress / VIB (the Flanders Institute for Biotechnology) / eClinicalMedicine ^ \| April 4, 2024 \| Arnout Bruggeman et al Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disease that affects millions worldwide. Now, a groundbreaking clinical study has demonstrated the potential of fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) to improve symptoms in patients with PD. Motoric symptoms, such as balance problems, stiffness, and the characteristic tremor, are the best known and almost always the reason for the eventual diagnosis. However, non-motor symptoms, such as loss of smell, constipation, and REM sleep disturbances, often develop up to 20 years before diagnosis in a large number of people with the disease. In Parkinson's disease, a protein called alpha-synuclein misfolds and clumps together. Those clumps...

Diabetes drug shows promise against Parkinson's in clinical study (Adlyxin GLP-1 receptor agonist)
	04/05/2024 9:11:33 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 7 replies Medical Xpress / AFP / New England Journal of Medicine ^ \| April 4, 2024 \| Issam Ahmed and Lucie Aubourg / Wassilios G. Meissner et al A drug used to treat diabetes slowed the progression of motor issues associated with Parkinson's disease, a study said. Researchers have been interested in exploring a class of drugs called GLP-1 receptor agonists—which mimic a gut hormone and are commonly used to treat diabetes and obesity—for their potential to protect neurons. In the new paper, 156 patients with early-stage Parkinson's were recruited across France and then randomly chosen to receive either lixisenatide, which is sold under the brand names Adlyxin and Lyxumia and made by Sanofi, or a placebo. After one year of follow up, the group on the treatment,...

Biologists discover propionate supplementation as a potential treatment for Parkinson's disease (Via soluble fiber or supplementation or reducing B-12, strangely)
	03/27/2024 8:50:39 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 8 replies Medical Xpress / The University of Hong Kong / Cell Reports ^ \| March 19, 2024 \| Chenyin Wang et al A research team recently discovered that propionate, a short-chain fatty acid (SCFA), strongly suppressed neurodegeneration in animal models of Parkinson's disease (PD) by regulating interorgan signaling between the intestine and brain. Either inhibiting propionate breakdown or supplementing propionate through diet reversed PD-associated transcriptional aberration and enhanced energy production in the intestine, which in turn promoted neuronal health without the need of dispersing the protein aggregates. PD is often characterized by the abnormal accumulation and aggregation of alpha-synuclein (alpha-syn) proteins in the dopaminergic neurons, which causes proteotoxic stress and neuronal death. One class of bacterial metabolites that have attracted a lot...

High-intensity exercise can reverse neurodegeneration in Parkinson's, study suggests
	03/05/2024 8:45:12 PM PST · by ConservativeMind · 5 replies Medical Xpress / Yale University / npj Parkinson's Disease ^ \| Feb. 27, 2024 \| Isabella Backman / Bart de Laat et al High-intensity exercise induces brain-protective effects that have the potential to not just slow down but possibly reverse the neurodegeneration associated with Parkinson's disease, a new pilot study suggests. Prior research has shown that many forms of exercise are linked to improved symptoms of Parkinson's disease. Now, a small proof-of-concept study involving 10 patients showed that high-intensity aerobic exercise preserved dopamine-producing neurons, the brain cells that are most vulnerable to destruction in patients with the disease. In fact, after six months of exercise, the neurons actually had grown healthier and produced stronger dopamine signals. Dopamine is a chemical that helps brain...

2 Cups of Local Kopi a Day May Reduce Parkinson's Disease Risk by up to 8 Times, According to New Study
	09/29/2023 7:04:55 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 13 replies Channel News Asia ^ \| 30 Sep 2023 \| Khoo Bee Khim New research by Singapore’s National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) also revealed that carrying one of two Asian gene variants increases your risk of Parkinson's disease. And up to 10 per cent of the Singapore population carry one of these gene variants.offee and tea drinkers, rejoice – especially those with a genetic predisposition to developing Parkinson’s disease (PD). New research by Singapore’s National Neuroscience Institute (NNI) has found that two cups of kopi (traditional local coffee made from robusta coffee beans) a day can reduce the risk of PD by four to eight times in people with Asian gene variants linked to...

Musician Gary Wright dead at 80 after battling Parkinson's, Lewy body dementia
	09/05/2023 12:59:51 AM PDT · by SaveFerris · 82 replies Fox News ^ \| Published September 5, 2023 2:35am EDT \| By Landon Mion Fox News Singer Gary Wright died at 80 years old on Monday after years of health issues, according to his family. Wright's son, Justin Wright, told TMZ that the musician died Monday morning at his home in Palos Verdes Estates, California, with his family and loved ones by his side. The singer-songwriter was diagnosed with Parkinson's Disease more than five years ago and, shortly after that diagnosis, also learned he had Lewy body dementia. Wright's Parkinson's worsened over the past year and ultimately prevented him from speaking or moving around on his own, according to his son.

Certain gut conditions may be early warning signs of Parkinson's disease
	08/27/2023 8:16:18 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 6 replies Medical Xpress / British Medical Journal / Gut ^ \| Aug. 24, 2023 \| Bo Konings et al Certain gut problems, such as constipation, difficulty swallowing, and irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), may be early warning signs of the neurological condition Parkinson's disease, suggests research. Gastrointestinal symptoms are thought to precede the development of cerebrovascular disease, such as stroke or a brain aneurysm, or Alzheimer's disease, and it has been suggested (Braak's hypothesis) that gut conditions may precede the development of Parkinson's disease too. …Both analyses indicated that four gut conditions were associated with a higher risk of a Parkinson's disease diagnosis. Specifically, gastroparesis (delayed stomach emptying), dysphagia (difficulty swallowing), and constipation were associated with a more than doubling...

Eye scans detect signs of Parkinson's disease up to seven years before diagnosis (Standard ophthalmologist’s optical coherence tomography scan)
	08/24/2023 7:29:44 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 4 replies Medical Xpress / University College London / Neurology ^ \| Aug. 21, 2023 \| Siegfried Karl Wagner et al Markers that indicate the presence of Parkinson's disease in patients on average seven years before clinical presentation have been identified by a research team. The study identified markers of Parkinson's in eye scans with the help of AI. Its analysis of the AlzEye dataset was repeated using the wider UK Biobank database (healthy volunteers), which replicated the discoveries. Eye scans and eye data have also been able to reveal a propensity to high blood pressure; cardiovascular disease including strokes; and diabetes. Doctors have known for a long time that the eye can act as a "window" to the rest of...

Parkinson's disease: Intense exercise may help to keep the disease at bay
	07/16/2023 5:20:53 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 21 replies Medical Xpress / Universita Cattolica del Sacro Cuore / Science Advances ^ \| July 14, 2023 \| Gioia Marino et al Neuroscientists have found that intensive exercise could slow the course of Parkinson's disease. The finding could pave the way for new non-drug approaches. The research has identified a new mechanism responsible for the positive effects of exercise on brain plasticity. Professor Paolo Calabresi, said, "We have discovered a never observed mechanism, through which exercise performed in the early stages of the disease induces beneficial effects on movement control that may last over time even after training is suspended." Previous work has shown that intensive physical activity is associated with increased production of a critical growth factor, the brain-derived neurotrophic factor...

Mitochondrial research rewrites understanding of Parkinson's disease pathway
	06/29/2023 9:50:10 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 11 replies Medical Xpress / Walter and Eliza Hall Institute of Medical Research / Molecular Cell ^ \| June 27, 2023 \| Thanh Ngoc Nguyen et al While mitochondria play a crucial role in producing the energy our cells need to carry out their various functions, when damaged, they can have profound effects on cellular function and contribute to the development of various diseases. Broken-down mitochondria are usually removed and recycled through a garbage disposal process known as "mitophagy." PINK1 and Parkin are two proteins vital to this process, responsible for "tagging" malfunctioning mitochondria for destruction. In Parkinson's disease, mutations in these proteins can result in the accumulation of damaged mitochondria in the brain, which can lead to motor symptoms such as tremors, stiffness and difficulty with...

Parkinson's disease drug ropinirole safely slows the progression of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, finds clinical trial
	06/05/2023 9:16:05 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 6 replies Medical Xpress / Cell Press / Cell Stem Cell ^ \| June 1, 2023 \| Hideyuki Okano et al Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as Lou Gehrig's disease, is a fatal motor neuron disease that causes people to gradually lose control of their muscles. There is no cure, and current treatments focus on reducing symptoms and providing supportive care. Researchers show in an early clinical trial that the Parkinson's disease drug ropinirole is safe to use in ALS patients and delayed disease progression by 27.9 weeks on average. The trial was double blinded for the first 24 weeks, meaning that the patients and doctors did not know which patients were receiving ropinirole and which were receiving a placebo....

Physical activity level inversely linked to Parkinson's disease in women
	05/21/2023 9:06:39 PM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 3 replies Medical Xpress / Neurology ^ \| May 18, 2023 \| Elana Gotkine / Berta Portugal et al / Lana M. Chahine et al In women, a higher physical activity (PA) level is associated with a lower incidence of Parkinson's disease (PD), according to a study. Berta Portugal, Ph.D. and colleagues examined the association between time-varying PA and PD using lagged analyses to address the potential for reverse causation. Data were obtained from the E3N cohort study of women affiliated with a national health insurance plan (1990 to 2018). During the follow-up period, PA was self-reported in six questionnaires. A time-varying latent PA (LPA) variable was created as questions changed across questionnaires. Differences in LPA trajectories were examined, and the association between time-varying LPA...

Researchers identify 10 pesticides toxic to neurons involved in Parkinson's
	05/20/2023 9:39:19 AM PDT · by ConservativeMind · 34 replies Medical Xpress / University of California, Los Angeles / Nature Communications ^ \| May 17, 2023 \| Kimberly C. Paul et al Researchers have identified 10 pesticides that significantly damaged neurons implicated in the development of Parkinson's disease. While environmental factors such as pesticide exposure have long been linked to Parkinson's, it has been harder to pinpoint which pesticides may raise risk for the neurodegenerative disorder. Just in California, there are nearly 14,000 pesticide products with over 1,000 active ingredients registered for use. Through a novel pairing of epidemiology and toxicity screening researchers were able to identify 10 pesticides that were directly toxic to dopaminergic neurons. The neurons play a key role in voluntary movement, and the death of these neurons is...

Comedian Richard Lewis Says He Has Parkinson's Disease
	04/24/2023 1:18:26 PM PDT · by nickcarraway · 9 replies BBC ^ \| 4/24 \| Chloe Kim Comedian Richard Lewis has opened up about his diagnosis with Parkinson's Disease in a Twitter video he shared on Sunday.He said he was diagnosed two years ago and had been dealing with his health privately until now. Mr Lewis just wrapped an "amazing" 12th season of the comedy Curb Your Enthusiasm, which he was a regular on. Though he will not continue stand-up, he said he plans to continue acting and writing.

'Semantic similarity' leads to novel drug candidates for Parkinson's disease (Probucol)
	03/03/2023 8:08:04 PM PST · by ConservativeMind · 2 replies Medical Xpress / Public Library of Science / PLoS Biology ^ \| Feb. 2, 2023 \| Angus McQuibban et al The words that researchers use to describe their results can be harnessed to discover potential new treatments for Parkinson's disease, according to a new study. The study employed an artificial intelligence (AI) system to identify an existing anti-cholesterol drug that has the ability to promote disposal of mitochondria, energy-making components of the cell which are damaged in the disease. The full pathogenic pathway leading to Parkinson's disease (PD) is unknown, but one clear contributor is mitochondrial dysfunction and the inability to dispose of defective mitochondria, a process called mitophagy. At least five genes implicated in PD are linked to impaired...

Study finds air pollution exposure linked to Parkinson's risk, identifies US hot spot
	02/25/2023 4:10:53 PM PST · by ConservativeMind · 17 replies Medical Xpress / American Academy of Neurology / American Academy of Neurology's 75th Annual Meeting ^ \| Feb. 23, 2023 \| Brittany Krzyzanowski, Ph.D. et al Living in areas of the United States with higher levels of air pollution is associated with an increased risk of Parkinson's disease, according to a study. The study looked at fine particulate matter, PM2.5, which is less than 2.5 microns in diameter. Fine particles come from motor vehicle exhaust, the burning of fuels by power plants and other industries and forest and grass fires. People in the highest exposure group had an average annual exposure of 19 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m3) of fine particulate matter. People in the lowest exposure group had an average annual exposure of 5 µg/m3....

Parkinson's disease patients experience significant reduction in symptoms with non-surgical focused ultrasound treatment (2/3rds good one year later)
	02/22/2023 8:58:47 PM PST · by ConservativeMind · 11 replies Medical Xpress / University of Maryland School of Medicine / New England Journal of Medicine ^ \| Feb. 22, 2023 \| Howard Eisenberg, MD et al Patients with Parkinson's disease achieved a significant improvement in their tremors, mobility, and other physical symptoms after having a minimally invasive procedure involving focused ultrasound, according to a new study today published in the New England Journal of Medicine. The clinical trial was led by researchers at the University of Maryland School of Medicine (UMSOM) and involved 94 Parkinson's disease patients who were randomly assigned to undergo focused ultrasound to ablate a targeted region on one side of the brain or to have a sham procedure. Nearly 70 percent of patients in the treatment group were considered successful responders to...

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