FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·May 20, 2020Link between diesel exhaust and risk of Parkinson’s discoveredResearchers have uncovered the process by which air pollution can damage brain cells, leading to an increased risk of Parkinson's disease. Chemicals found in diesel fuel reduced autophagic flux, which is a major pathway implicated in neurodegeneration. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·May 13, 2020Significant differences exist among neurons expressing dopamine receptorsDopamine receptors have different molecular features and functions depending on their anatomical location within the striatum. The findings could help develop better-targeted treatments for a range of disorders from schizophrenia to Parkinson's disease. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·May 1, 2020Parkinson’s dyskinesia mechanism explainedInvoluntary movements and tremors caused as a result of taking dopamine replacement medications for Parkinson's disease can be alleviated through the suppression of RasGRP1. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 30, 2020Researchers unravel protein mystery of three brain diseasesResearchers have identified two different shapes of alpha-synuclein associated with multiple systems atrophy (MSA) and Lewy body dementia. The structure of the protein is helical in MSA, causing the symptoms to occur more quickly and aggressively. In Lewy body dementia, the protein takes on a cylindrical form. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscience·April 27, 2020More evidence Parkinson’s disease may start in the gutEnteric neurons appear to play a key role in the development of Parkinson's disease. The findings support the hypothesis and previous studies that the neurodegenerative disease may start in the gut before spreading to the brain. Researchers also found oligodendrocytes were affected during the early stages of Parkinson's, even before the loss of dopaminergic neurons. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 20, 2020Further evidence autoimmunity plays a role in Parkinson’s diseaseT cells that react to alpha-synuclein are most abundant in the early stages of Parkinson's disease but tend to disappear as the disease progresses. Signs of autoimmunity can appear in Parkinson's patients up to ten years before a diagnosis of the neurodegenerative disease. The detection of T cell response could be an early biomarker for Parkinson's, long before the physical symptoms begin to manifest. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·April 14, 2020Being “right-brained” or “left-brained” comes down to molecular switchesEpigenetic regulation controls whether certain genes on each side of the brain are switched on or off. The findings shed light on why Parkinson's disease often affects one side of the body before the other. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·March 26, 2020Jumping Genes Help Make Neurons in a DishConverting skin cells to functional brain cells relies on precise insertion of Line-1 retrotransposons. Read More
FeaturedGeneticsNeuroscience·March 20, 2020Worldwide Study Unlocks Genetic Secrets of the Gray MatterResearchers have created the first genetic map of the cerebral cortex, which identifies over 300 genetic variants that influence the structure of the brain region. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·March 13, 2020‘Natural killer’ cells could halt Parkinson’s progressionNatural killer cells may play a critical role in regulating and restraining neuroinflammation and protein clumping associated with Parkinson's disease. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscience·March 11, 2020New target for Parkinson’s therapies identifiedTwo regions outside of the non-amyloid-beta-component play a critical role in controlling amyloid formation of alpha-synuclein. Read More
FeaturedNeurologyNeuroscienceOpen Neuroscience Articles·February 23, 2020Iron in brain shows cognitive decline in people with Parkinson’sThe measure of iron in the brain may help doctors predict which patients with Parkinson's disease are most likely to develop dementia. Read More
