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Your Weekly Parkinson's News Update for the Week of 7.29.19

Monday July 29, 2019

Fierce Biotech

Abnormal clumps of a protein called alpha-synuclein, or Lewy bodies, are a hallmark of Parkinson’s and other brain disorders. But alpha-synuclein isn’t all bad. In fact, new research reveals it actually plays a vital role in preventing the death of neurons in Parkinson’s.

Scientists at Oregon Health & Science University discovered that alpha-synuclein repairs DNA breaks in brain cells, preventing them from dying. But Lewy bodies actually pull the protein out of the nucleus of the cells, leading to neuron death. They published their findings in the journal Scientific Reports.

Research Could Lead to New Treatments for Parkinson's

Medical Xpress

A small protein previously associated with cell dysfunction and death in fact serves a critical function in repairing breaks in DNA, according to new research led by scientists at Oregon Health & Science University. The findings suggest that it may be possible to design new therapies to replace alpha-synuclein's function or boost it in people with Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Smart Brain Stimulators: Next-Gen Parkinson's Therapy

EurekAlert!

Researchers at the University of Houston have found neuro biomarkers for Parkinson's that can help create the next generation of "smart" deep brain stimulators, able to respond to specific needs of people living with Parkinson's, who often undergo the high-frequency brain stimulation, a well-established therapy for the progressive nervous system disorder that affects movement, but the therapy has been imprecise up to now.

Exercising with Parkinson’s: Try It and See the Benefits

Parkinson's News Today

"Just consider it. I was reluctant to go. Mostly because I’m an introvert — yes, I really am. I have to push myself to get out there. And so I did. I forced myself to check it out almost nine months ago, and I am still going.

I recently read a discussion in a Parkinson’s Facebook group I belong to. Someone asked what decision others had made in their lives since their diagnosis that had made the most positive difference to their health. I was surprised by the number of answers about exercise. It seems logical to me now, but before attending boxing classes, I may have had a different response, such as increasing my chocolate intake."

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