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

A technique that identifies the build-up of abnormal proteins associated with Parkinson’s disease may diagnose the condition long before symptoms start to show, scientists have said.

New research published in The Lancet Neurology journal appears to confirm that the method, known as alpha-synuclein seed amplification assay can accurately identify people who are at risk of developing the disease.

The scientists said their findings could pave the way for early detection, diagnosis and treatment of Parkinson’s. Click here to learn more.

Prilenia achieves last patient last visit in Phase 3 PROOF-HD clinical study for Huntington’s disease

The final participant in PROOF-HD, a global Phase 3 study in Huntington’s disease targeting clinical progression, recently completed the last planned visit of the blinded treatment period, marking the completion of the main study.

Topline results of the PROOF-HD study are expected shortly. Additionally, ninety-eight percent (98%) of patients who were eligible to continue in the ongoing open-label extension of PROOF-HD elected to do so.

The PROOF-HD study was conducted with the Huntington Study Group (HSG), a world leader in clinical research for HD and collaborator for Prilenia Therapeutics, a clinical stage biotechnology company focused on the urgent mission to develop novel therapeutics to slow the progression of neurodegenerative diseases and neurodevelopmental disorders. Click here to learn more.

MRI study supports Friedreich’s ataxia as disease of whole brain

Altered connections between the cerebellum and cerebral cortex are associated with greater severity of Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), an MRI study showed. Unusual changes in connectivity also were seen to correlate with damage to the brain’s white matter. Together, these results contribute to the view that FA is a “whole-brain” disease, the researchers noted. Click here to learn more.

Is exposure to metal associated with the risk of Parkinson's disease?

A recent American Journal of Epidemiology study reviewed the literature on metal exposure and Parkinson's disease (PD) risk. Although no consistent associations were observed regarding most metals, there was a possible increased risk of PD following lead exposure. This was inferred based on two studies where a higher level of lead was observed in the bones of PD patients.

The risk of PD was higher after exposure to airborne mercury, and the mortality was also higher among individuals drinking water with high selenium concentrations. Click here to learn more.

Starting your dystonia journey?

On Friday, May 4, the Dystonia Medical Research Foundation is hosting a virtual support group meeting for individuals newly diagnosed with dystonia. The meeting will provide an overview of dystonia, as well as tips for daily life. Family and friends are welcome. Meeting starts at 5:00 pm MT. Click here to learn more.