Sunday, December 10, 2023

Researchers develop a blood test to identify individuals at risk of developing Parkinson's disease

Research carried out at Oxford University has led to the development of a new blood-based test to identify the pathology that triggers Parkinson's disease before the main symptoms occur. This could allow clinicians to screen for those individuals at high risk of developing the disease and facilitate the timely introduction of precision therapies that are currently at clinical trial stage.

In the paper, “Neuronally Derived Extracellular Vesicle α-Synuclein as a Serum Biomarker for Individuals at Risk of Developing Parkinson Disease” published in JAMA Neurology, Shijun Yan and colleagues in the Tofaris lab, which is part of Oxford's Nuffield Department of Clinical Neurosciences, revealed the promise of measuring a subtype of extracellular vesicles to identify changes in alpha-synuclein in people who are likely to develop Parkinson's disease. Click here or video to learn more.

What an incredible day! Thank you to our dedicated community of supporters who came together to rally for movement disorders research and education on Colorado Gives Day. As promised, every gift made during this campaign will be doubled.

Best of all, Movement Disorders Foundation will continue to match contributions received this year - dollar for dollar - in our continuing commitment to supporting the most promising translational research and treatments to improve the quality of life for people with movement disorders. We need your support to ensure we can continue finding, assessing and supporting today's most innovative "undiscovered pioneers" in research.

ColoradoGives.org is a year-round, online giving website featuring more than 1,800 nonprofits, including Movement Disorders Foundation. Please support our efforts by giving during our year-end match and your tax-deductible gift also will be doubled.

Click here and make twice the impact for MDF research and education. All gifts given up to $3,000 will be doubled through 11:59 P.M. MST on December 31.

Intensive rehabilitation seen to benefit adults and children with FA

An intensive and multidisciplinary rehabilitation program eased symptoms of ataxia — lack of coordination and muscle control — and improved motor function in adults and children with Friedreich’s ataxia (FA), according to a study published in the journal Frontiers in Neurology. The sweeping program offered physiotherapy, occupational therapy, manual activities, psychological support, speech therapy, and clinical psychology.

Participants were evaluated as a whole and as two groups — ambulant and non-ambulant patients — and the program was tailored according to their abilities. Click here to learn more.

Crushed Ingrezza likely effective if added to soft foods, feeding tube

Valbenazine - Ingrezza’s active ingredient - can be taken from its capsule, crushed and sprinkled on soft foods or given via a feeding tube to Huntington’s disease patients who have difficulty swallowing whole capsules, according to a preclinical study published in Clinical Therapeutics.

“These results suggest that the crushed contents of Ingrezza, which is currently administered as one capsule, once daily, can be added to soft foods or liquids or mixed with water and delivered via a gastronomy tube,” reports Eiry W. Roberts, MD, chief medical officer at Neurocrine. “The data are promising for adults living with chorea associated with Huntington’s disease, many of whom may have difficulty swallowing whole capsules.” Click here to learn more.

Nicotinamide riboside supplement may help ease motor symptoms

One month of a high-dose nicotinamide riboside (NR) supplement was well-tolerated and eased motor symptoms among people with Parkinson’s disease in a small clinical trial, as reported in Nature Communications.

Researchers caution that these results are preliminary and note that data from ongoing trials should shed more light on the effectiveness and safety of taking the supplement at a dose greater than 2,000 mg per day. Click here to learn more.