Parkinson’s Disease

Although dopamine replacement therapy can improve many symptoms of Parkinson's disease, in rare cases clinicians have observed that gait worsens after the administration of medication, a phenomenon known as “on freezing.”

A new study showed that repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation (rTMS) has a positive effect in patients with “on freezing” as well as unpredicted “off freezing,” with a subsequent decrease in the number of falls. The treatment also has a high safety profile, with no long-term effects, reported Hatem Samir M. Shehata, MD, Professor of Neurology, Cairo University, Egypt, at the 2016 American Academy of Neurology annual meeting.

An inhaled formulation of levodopa (CVT-301) eased breakthrough motor symptoms in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) between standard levodopa doses in a phase 2 clinical trial.

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) seeking relief from psychosis with antipsychotic medication may start looking for alternative management strategies.

A quick and easy clinical prediction tool can delineate a 4-year risk for dementia in patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Those looking for equality based on race and sex won’t find it in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.

Results of the largest study to evaluate the link between cognition and cortical thinning using 3T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) show cortical thinning in patients with early-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD) that is associated with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) as reflected by lower cognitive function scores. This finding could lead to earlier diagnosis and treatment of PD, the researchers note.

Definitive answers about the role of nutrition in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remain elusive. Epidemiologic data have suggested a beneficial role for nutrition-related factors, including omega-3 fatty acids, tea, caffeine, and wine. Other studies have pointed to potential deleterious effects of certain nutrients, such as milk and other dairy products, according to a new review.

A recent study conducted as part of the Harvard Biomarker Study, a longitudinal case-control study to assess molecular diagnostics that track or predict the progression of early-stage Parkinson’s disease (PD), suggests that vitamin D deficiency plays a significant role in patients with PD.

Men with N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) receptor antibodies (NMDAr-Abs) encephalitis present different from women, according to a recent study. Adult men are more likely to present with seizures, whereas women rarely present with seizures and are much more likely to present with behavioral and psychiatric features as their first symptom. Males and females have a similar course of global progression and similar recovery.