Mary Chapman

1 month ago | parkinsonsnewstoday.com | Margarida Maia |Mary Chapman |Andrea Lobo |Patricia Inacio

Parkinson’s disease can lead to early retinal changes — alterations in the thin layer at the back of the eye, known as the retina, that’s responsible for detecting light and sending visual signals to the brain — that can be revealed with the use of a simple eye test, a study has found. According to the researchers, these retinal changes can be detected using electroretinography, a noninvasive test that measures how well the retina responds to light and transmits signals to the brain.

Oct 28, 2024 | parkinsonsnewstoday.com | Marisa Wexler |Steve Bryson |Andrea Lobo |Mary Chapman

Genetic variations that influence the size of specific brain regions are associated with an increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, a study reports. “Our findings suggest that genetic influences that underpin individual differences in brain structure may be fundamental to understanding the underlying causes of brain-related disorders,” Miguel Rentería, PhD, co-author of the study at the Queensland Institute of Medical Research in Australia, said in a news release.

Sep 9, 2024 | parkinsonsnewstoday.com | Margarida Maia |Lindsey Shapiro |Mary Chapman |Marisa Wexler

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is encouraging scientists and drug developers to use an alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay (synSAA) to improve the development and efficiency of clinical trials seeking to delay or prevent the development of Parkinson’s and other neurodegenerative diseases that share toxic clumps of that protein as a causing mechanism.

Aug 28, 2024 | parkinsonsnewstoday.com | Andrea Lobo |Jamie Askari |Lindsey Shapiro |Mary Chapman

Women with current or past migraines were not seen to be at a higher risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in a recent study that analyzed data from a large U.S. clinical trial of women’s health. The risk was similar across the migraine types experienced by the women, including those with or without aura, the visual or sensory disturbances that occur prior to head pain, as well as the frequency of migraine attacks.

Aug 22, 2024 | parkinsonsnewstoday.com | Jill Hammergren |Mary Chapman |Margarida Maia |Steve Bryson

Many of us readily lend a hand when a loved one, friend, or neighbor needs support, especially if it’s a one-time occurrence. These are typically straightforward things like driving them to an appointment when their car isn’t working, providing a meal when they’ve had an illness or death in the family, or gathering the mail while they’re on vacation. However, few of us sign up to be full-time caregivers.