Why women with Parkinson’s are misdiagnosed more often than men

Although Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disorder in the U.S., its symptoms show up differently in women and men, and women are often misdiagnosed or diagnosed late. Dr. Sonia Mathur, a Parkinson's disease advocate and family physician, discusses this "unequal treatment" on PBS News Weekend. Click here to learn more.

Adenosine improves mitochondrial dysfunction in FA fibroblasts

A new study, published in Biology, observed improved mitochondrial function and biogenesis in fibroblasts from a patient with Friedrich ataxia (FA).

The authors conclude that adenosine was protective against BSO-induced oxidative stress and apoptosis in FA fibroblasts. It also was able to improve mitochondrial function and regulate biogenesis, suggesting a potential therapeutic role for adenosine in FA. Click here to learn more.

HD: ANX005 stabilizes functional capacity in Phase 2a trial

The experimental therapy ANX005 safely leads to stabilization or improvements in functional capacity for early Huntington’s disease patients or those at risk for the neurodegenerative disease, according to final data from a Phase 2a clinical trial.

Given these positive results, a Phase 2/3 trial to evaluate ANX005 in patients with early-stage Huntington’s is planned for later this year, according to Rajeev Kumar, MD, one of the trial’s investigators and medical director of the Rocky Mountain Movement Disorders Center. Kumar also is the founding director of the Movement Disorders Foundation.

The Annexon Biosciences’ therapy may benefit patients with high activation of the complement system, an immune pathway implicated in neurodegeneration. Click here to learn more.

Early signs of Parkinson's found in gut microbiome of patients with sleep disorder

In a new study published in Nature Communications, researchers from The Chinese University of Hong Kong examined the link between Parkinson’s disease (PD) and the gut microbiome by examining four groups of participants, including one group with PD and one group with REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), as many people with RBD develop Parkinson’s.

The scientists found Parkinson’s disease markers in the guts of these RBD participants, which they believe can help with early diagnosis of the disease. Click here to learn more.

Creative coping: tips and tricks for daily life with dystonia

Living well with dystonia often requires creative adaptations invented by those experiencing the disorder firsthand. An international team of clinicians recently published examples of the “self-concocted, curious, and creative” ways movement disorder patients manage symptoms. The clinicians noted how important these coping techniques are to improved quality of life. Click here to learn more.