A “game-changing” report for those in the Parkinson's disease community

A new test could make it possible to diagnose Parkinson’s disease before symptoms appear, paving the way for early intervention. “Our findings suggest that the αSyn-SAA technique is highly accurate at detecting the biomarker for Parkinson’s disease regardless of the clinical features," says Luis Concha, Ph.D., "making it possible to accurately diagnose the disease in patients at early stages.”

In a nearly decade-long study published in The Lancet Neurology, a team of scientists with the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative describe how they developed an assay to detect deposits of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the cerebrospinal fluid of hundreds of at-risk and early-stage patients. The test, recently commercialized by Amprion as SYNTap, was able to distinguish them from non-Parkinson’s patients 88% of the time and had a specificity of 96%. Click here to learn more.

First patient dosed in Phase 1/2a clinical trial of VO659 in Huntington's disease

A Phase 1/2a clinical trial testing VO659 - Vico Therapeutics’ experimental therapy - in people with Huntington’s disease and other hereditary neurological disorders caused by a similar type of mutation has dosed the first patient. VO659 is the only clinical-stage candidate targeting the CAG repeat expansion that causes these diseases.

Preclinical studies in models of Huntington’s and two other CAG repeat expansion diseases called spinocerebellar ataxia type 1 (SCA1) and type 3 (SCA3) have suggested VO659 treatment can reduce levels of the abnormally long proteins that drive these disorders, according to Vico. Click here to learn more.

Genetic sequencing may aid accurate tally of Friedreich’s ataxia-causing GAA repeats

Researchers have identified a more high-throughput genetic sequencing method to quantify the GAA repeats in the FXN gene that cause Friedreich’s ataxia. According to a study published in Brain Communications, researchers believe it’s “imperative to deploy this technology,” not only for FA, but for other diseases associated with a similar type of mutation, such as Huntington’s disease or fragile X syndrome. Click here to learn more.

What brain surgery with no scalpel looks like

As the search continues for non-invasive ways to treat neurodegenerative diseases, focused ultrasound has become an alternative to surgery when it comes to treating essential and Parkinson's tremors. "[It's] the most powerful sound you will never hear, but it's a sound that someday could save your life," according to Dr. Neal Kassell, Founder of the Focused Ultrasound Foundation. Click video to learn more.

New techniques could help diagnose Parkinson’s early, scientists say

A handful of new formulations of traditional levodopa/carbidopa drugs are nearing the market, which are designed to improve treatment outcomes, in particular by reducing the severity of symptoms associated with “off” periods with periodic dosing. And several new therapeutic entities in Phase II trials are building upon existing mechanisms of action or hitting entirely novel targets. Click here to learn more.