Thursday, February 29, 2024

High intensity exercise can reverse neurodegeneration in Parkinson’s disease

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 (PD), a new pilot study suggests. “This is the first time imaging has been used to confirm that the biology of the brain in those suffering with Parkinson’s disease is changed by intense exercise,” says Evan D. Morris, PhD, professor of radiology and biomedical imaging at Yale School of Medicine and co-principal investigator of the paper.

The proof-of-concept study involving 10 patients showed that high-intensity aerobic exercise preserved dopamine-producing neurons. In fact, after six months of exercise, the neurons actually had grown healthier and produced stronger dopamine signals. Click here to learn more.

Molecules identified that reduce defective protein that causes Huntington’s disease

In a new study published in EMBO Molecular Medicine, Professor Rivka Dikstein of the Weizmann Institute of Science and her team identified two small molecules that manage to penetrate the blood-brain barrier and reduce the levels of a defective protein that causes Huntington’s disease. The new drugs not only slowed the progress of the disease in mouse models but even reversed some of its symptoms.

“While other experimental treatments require repeated brain or spinal surgery, these molecules, delivered orally or by means of an injection, could pave the way for an effective and safe treatment of Huntington’s disease,” Dikstein says. Click here to learn more.

Machine learning aids distinguishing Parkinson’s, essential tremor voices

Using machine learning to analyze speech from speakers of different languages could help distinguish between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and essential tremor, according to a recent study published in npj Digital Medicine. In tests comparing PD against essential tremor, researchers found their tool could identify patients with an accuracy of up to 81.4% in monolog recordings and 86.2% for syllables. Click here to learn more.

Researchers use deep brain stimulation to map therapeutic targets for four brain disorders

A new study led by investigators from Mass General Brigham demonstrated the use of deep brain stimulation (DBS) to map a ‘human dysfunctome’ — a collection of dysfunctional brain circuits associated with different disorders.

The team identified optimal networks to target in the frontal cortex that could be used for treating Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and Tourette's syndrome. Their results are published in Nature Neuroscience. Click here to learn more.

Larimar lays out FDA approval plan for Friedreich’s ataxia drug

US-based Larimar Therapeutics has reported positive top-line data from a Phase II exploratory trial of the Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) drug, nomlabofusp. The company plans to start a confirmatory trial for the drug, intending to file a biologics license application with the US Food and Drug Administration in H2 2025.

The placebo-controlled Phase II trial enrolled 28 participants with FA. Nomlabofusp demonstrated dose-dependent increases in frataxin levels in all evaluated tissues after daily dosing for 14 days, followed by every other day dosing until day 28. Click here to learn more.

Join Rocky Mountain HDSA for a Celebration of Hope: Wine & Shine on Saturday, May 11

The Rocky Mountain Chapter of the Huntington's Disease Society of America invite you to their 2024 Celebration of Hope: Wine & Shine on Saturday, May 11, at 6:00 pm at the Bonacquisti Wine Company in Denver. Enjoy dinner, wine and a silent auction including show tickets, spa gift certificates and a variety of beautiful gift baskets.

Click here to purchase tickets online. For additional information, please contact Molly Kokesh at rockymountain@HDSAvolunteer.org.