Parkinson’s warning: UCLA & Harvard researchers identify 10 neurotoxic pesticides

Researchers at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) Health and Harvard University have identified 10 pesticides that significantly damaged neurons implicated in the development of Parkinson’s disease, providing new clues about environmental toxins’ role in the disease. With thousands of pesticides in use, the researchers’ screening approach could make it easier to determine which ones are linked to the disease.

Through a novel pairing of epidemiology and toxicity screening that leveraged California’s extensive pesticide use database, UCLA and Harvard researchers were able to identify pesticides that were directly toxic to dopaminergic neurons. The neurons play a key role in voluntary movement, and the death of these neurons is a hallmark of Parkinson’s. Click here to learn more.

Phase 3 KINECT-HD data reinforces Valbenazine's benefit in Huntington disease chorea

Neurocrine Biosciences is reporting pre-defined primary and secondary endpoints of improvement in chorea severity and global impression of change from their Phase 3 KINECT™-HD study, which investigated valbenazine for the treatment of chorea associated with Huntington's disease (HD). 

The study demonstrated a reduction in symptoms associated with HD and improvement of overall chorea severity as noticed by clinicians and patients, with improvement seen as early as Week 2 of the initial dose in the 12-week study. Click here to learn more.

FA patients see benefits of Larimar therapy after 14 days in trial

According to Phase 2 trial data, a new therapy by Larimar Therapeutics, CTI-1601, was generally well tolerated by people with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA) and increased levels of the protein frataxin in their skin and mouth (buccal) cells after two weeks. Participants received either 25 mg of CTI-1601 or a placebo as an under-the-skin injection, given daily for 14 days and then every other day for 14 days more. Click here to learn more.

Exercise may provide some protection against Parkinson’s disease

New research published in the journal Neurology shows that regular exercise may offer some benefits against Parkinson’s disease (PD). According to the findings, women who spent the most time either exercising or engaging in other physical activities had a 25% lower rate of PD prevalence compared to those who undertook the least amount of exercise.

The study - called E3N - followed more than 90,000 women for almost three decades to learn about how lifestyle factors affect women’s health. Scientists from France used data from the study to see if there is an association between exercise and developing PD. Click here to learn more.

Scientists identify mutated gene behind mirror movement disorder

Scientists at Université de Montréal, McGill University and its affiliated Montreal Children's Hospital have made a promising breakthrough in understanding the origins of mirror movement disorder. Mirror movement disorder is a rare inherited neurological condition first manifested by involuntary movements, primarily in the arms and hands, at an early age. In those affected, the right hand involuntarily reproduces the movements of the left hand and vice versa, hence the term "mirror movement." Click here to learn more.