Thursday, December 21, 2023

Form of vitamin B3 may help manage Parkinson’s disease

Over the past few years, researchers have looked at nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) — a molecule that helps the body create energy — as a possible treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD). Previous research suggested that people with Parkinson’s may have a NAD+ deficiency, and increasing NAD+ levels could have a positive effect.

Now, a phase 1 clinical trial has found that a high dose supplementation of nicotinamide riboside (NR) — a source of vitamin B3 and precursor to NAD+ — increased whole blood NAD+ levels and expanded the NAD+ metabolome in people with PD and may be associated with clinical symptomatic improvement for those with the condition.

The research is still in its early stages, and it remains to be conclusively proven that NR supplementation can improve the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Click here to learn more.

Why Huntington’s disease may take so long to develop

Scientists have uncovered a clue about why it takes so long for Huntington’s disease (HD) to develop - and they may have a lead on how to stop this fatal brain disease.

Huntington’s is caused by a mistakenly repeated bit of a gene called HTT. Until recently, researchers thought the number of repeats a person is born with doesn’t change. But, according to geneticist Bob Handsaker of the Broad Institute of MIT and Harvard University, the repeats can grow over time in some brain cells to hundreds of copies.

Once the number of repeats passes a certain point, the activity of thousands of other genes in the brain cells changes drastically, leading the cells to die. These findings suggest that adding repeats to the HTT gene in vulnerable brain cells is what is driving HD and that preventing the repeats from growing may stop the development of the disease. Click here to learn more.

Promising new therapies for managing Tourette syndrome

A device that stimulates the median nerve and a D1 receptor antagonist are among the promising new treatment approaches for patients with Tourette syndrome, as reported at the XXVI World Congress of Neurology. One study showed a wrist-worn stimulating device that significantly reduced the frequency and severity of tics.

“Wearable nerve stimulation holds great promise because...adults can wear [it] to work and children can go to school with it to help them concentrate on their schoolwork,” according to Eileen Joyce, PhD, MB BChir, professor of neuropsychiatry at the Institute of Neurology, University College in London. Click here to learn more.

Your questions answered: dystonia and the cerebellum

Last month, Dystonia UK hosted a “Reach Out, Reach All” webinar on dystonia and the cerebellum with Dr. Anna Sadnicka, a consultant neurologist at the British National Hospital for neurology and neurosurgery.

Dr. Sadnicka's award-winning research combines behavioral experiments, electrophysiology and computational models that shed light on dystonia mechanisms. Click video to watch this special presentation.

Cannabis use does not outperform placebo in improving Parkinson disease symptoms

Short-term use of daily cannabis (cannabidiol [CBD]/low delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol [THC]) is tolerated by patients with Parkinson disease (PD), but does not outperform placebo for motor symptom improvement, according to new research presented at the recent Future of Parkinson’s Disease Conference in Austin, Texas.



While cannabis use is common among patients with PD, little evidence exists regarding the safety and efficacy outcomes of CBD/THC in this population. The current study aimed to examine CBD/THC tolerability and its impact on motor and nonmotor symptoms among patients with PD. These results indicate that cannabis use, even in the short term, may not be beneficial for patients with PD and could potentially even worsen cognition and sleep. Click here to learn more.