# # # # At the end of each month the SoPD writes a post which provides an overview of some of the major pieces of Parkinson’s-related research that were made available during August 2022. The post is divided into 10 parts based on the type of research: Top 6 pieces of Parkinson’s news Articles of general interest Basic biology Disease mechanism Clinical research New clinical trials Clinical trial news Conferences/lectures Other news Review articles/videos # # # #

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So, what happened during August 2022?

In world news:

August 1st – Patrick, a 4 year old pony became the mayor of the Devonshire village of Cockington – a village frequented by a teenage Agatha Christie – after more than 200 people signing an online petition (Click here to read more about this).

 

4th August – China initiated its largest ever military exercise around Taiwan, an event that coincided with a controversial visit to the island nation by the Speaker of the US House of Representatives Nancy Pelosi, the highest-ranking U.S official to visit Taiwan since the 1990s.

 

15th August – Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi signed a decree to enforce the country’s hijab and chastity law. The new law resulted in a new list of restrictions on how women can dress and “women who publish their pictures without a hijab on the Internet will be deprived of some social rights for six months to one year” (Source).

 

18th August – The editing of multiple genes in soybean by researchers has been shown to improve photosynthesis and boost yields by 20% (Click here to read more about this).

 

31st August – Sincarnate’s AI (“Midjourney“)-generated work “Théâtre D’opéra Spatial” took first place in the digital category at the Colorado State Fair… and the other artists were not impressed (“We’re watching the death of artistry unfold before our eyes” – Click here to read more about this)

 

In the world of Parkinson’s research, a great deal of new research and news was reported:

In August 2022, there were 863 research articles added to the Pubmed website with the tag word “Parkinson’s” attached (7996 for all of 2022 so far). In addition, there was a wave to news reports regarding various other bits of Parkinson’s research activity (clinical trials, etc).

The top 6 pieces of Parkinson’s news

1. Estrogen-related receptor gamma:

Estrogen-related receptor gamma (ERRγ) deletion in adult mice leads to Levodopa-responsive Parkinson’s-like phenotype (and a decrease in mitochondrial gene expression & number); Partial deficiency of ERRγ hastens synuclein-mediated toxicity; increasing ERRγ rescues it. “Surprisingly, we found that while complete deletion of ERRγ caused behavioral hypoactivity & cell loss with age, partial deletion caused ambulatory hyperactivity at baseline, with hyperactivity maintained through 21 months of age” (Click here to read more about this).

2. Diet and fitness matter

A new “cohort study showed that a better diet quality & a higher level of physical activity were inversely associated with mortality risk among men & women with Parkinson’s“. A healthy diet & engaging in physical activity/exercise matters – “The current study also suggests that a healthy diet & higher levels of recreational physical activity may accomplish what medical intervention thus far has not been able to do: slow the pace of progression” (Click here to read more about this and click here to read the editorial about this research).

 

3. While you were sleeping

Researchers at Massachusetts Institute of Technology reported artificial intelligence-enabled detection & assessment of Parkinson’s using nocturnal breathing. Low-cost, “Objective, noninvasive, at-home assessment“. The study also suggests that the “AI model may be useful for risk assessment before clinical diagnosis” (Click here to read more about this and click here to read the press summary about this research).

 

4.  A novel mechanism for LRRK2

Mutant LRRK2 promotes the processing of β-amyloid precursor protein (APP) into its transcriptionally active form: the APP intracellular domain (AICD); New data finds these proteins are linked in a self-perpetuating cycle; Implications for Parkinson’s? AICD promoted LRRK2 expression & increases the abundance of LRRK2 which in turn promotes AICD activation. APP deficiency in LRRK2-G2019S mice suppressed LRRK2 expression & LRRK2-mediated mitochondrial dysfunction, α-synuclein accumulation & neurodegeneration; Conversely, AICD over-expression increased LRRK2-mediated neurotoxicity in LRRK2-G2019S mice. Treatment with itanapraced (a AICD inhibitor being developed by the biotech company Cerespir) reduced LRRK2 expression & was neuroprotective in models of Parkinson’s (Click here to read more about this)

 

5. The Lords of LRRK – 2 papers

The Lords of LRRK present XL01126: A fast-acting, cooperative, selective, orally bioavailable, brain penetrant PROTAC degrader of Parkinson’s-associated LRRK2; “An attractive starting point for future drug development” (Click here to read more about this). Another new paper explored the impact of 100 LRRK2 variants linked to Parkinson’s on kinase activity & microtubule binding – if you like blots, this one is for you! A tour de force; The “findings will stimulate work to better understand the mechanisms by which variants impact biology & provide rationale for variant carrier inclusion/exclusion in ongoing & future LRRK2 inhibitor clinical trials” (Click here to read more about this).

 

6. Deep brain stimulation of the basal nucleus of Meynert

The basal nucleus of Meynert doesn’t get enough attention in Parkinson’s research:
New optogenetic & chemogenetic cell-specific manipulations in mice point towards the importance of the region in top-down control of neocortical processing of pain-like behavior (Click here to read more about this).

Articles of general interest

• “My 5 top learnings from tracking my Parkinson’s for over a decade” by Sara Rigare
  1. Perspective
  2. Burden
  3. Pen & paper
  4. Sharing methods
  5. Ones own questions
  (not spoilers, you should read this – Click here to read more about this)

• The PD Trial Tracker August update: 624 active Parkinson’s clinical trials worldwide, with 180 in Phase 1-3 (Click here for more detailed information).
• The latest update of the Parkinson’s Hope List has 202 projects in research stage and 168 in clinical phases, a grand total of 370 Parkinson’s (Click here to read more about this).
• Important set of reviews on the current state of preventing Parkinson’s research (Click here to read this OPEN ACCESS articles)

Basic biology news

• New research reports a physiological phenotype (reduced synaptic activity & dysregulated extracellular matrix pathways) in midbrain neurons derived from different types of Parkinson’s iPS cells (A53T SNCA, LRRK2, etc – click here to read more about this).
• Dude, this is getting tiresome… “Downregulating PTBP1 fails to convert astrocytes into hippocampal neurons & to alleviate symptoms in Alzheimer’s mouse models… Our study suggests that cell fate conversion strategy for neurodegenerative disease therapy through manipulating one single gene, such as PTBP1, warrants more rigorous scrutiny” (Click here to read more about this).
• New research reports that Parkinson’s-associated α-synuclein can phase-separate into liquid droplets in the presence of Tau by electrostatic complex coacervation, acting as scaffolding molecule of the droplet network (Click here to read more about this).
• Researchers report that Parkinson’s-associated alpha synuclein determines ferroptosis sensitivity in dopaminergic neurons (via modulation of ether-phospholipid membrane composition – click here to read more about this).
• New findings “position DJ-1 downstream of PINK1 & Parkin in the same pathway & suggest that disruption of PINK1/parkin/DJ-1-mediated mitophagy is a common pathogenic mechanism in autosomal recessive Parkinson’s” (Click here to read more about this).
• New data provides new insights into how Cerebral dopamine neurotrophic factor (CDNF) protects neurons from ER-stress-inducing agents by modulating the unfolded protein response signaling towards cell survival outcomes; Implications for Parkinson’s? (Click here to read more about this).

• Researchers report that Polycomb repressive complex 2 (PRC2)-mediated repression represents an epigenetic mechanism that controls permanent gene silencing & maintenance of serotonergic & dopaminergic identity; Loss does not compromise survival (Click here to read more about this).
• New research presents a molecular & subcellular mechanism necessary & sufficient for the depletion of the retromer complex activity to exacerbate Tau-dependent neurodegeneration (Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript presents data indicating olfactory functional deficits observed in transgenic mice expressing the human A30P mutant alpha-synuclein recapitulate some of the features observed in Parkinson’s (Click here to read more about this).
• Researchers from the biotech company Regeneron present a CRISPR-Cas9 screen for genetic modifiers that enhance tau aggregation; BANF1, ANKLE2 & PPP2CA = increase aggregation; LEMD2, LEMD3 &CHMP7 protect against it; Could nuclear envelope integrity disruption be an initiating event? (Click here to read more about this).
• New data presents mutational studies of the ‘P1 region’ (residues 36-42) of Parkinson’s-associated alpha synuclein explore how individual residues control the self-assembly into amyloids (Click here to read more about this).
• “Similar to the therapeutic effect of Levodopa in patients, acute Levodopa treatment restore the motor defect of Parkinson’s flies, while prolonged treatments cause LID-related symptoms, such as increased yawing, freezing & abrupt acceleration of locomotion” (Click here to read more about this).

• The results of a new paper propose lysosomal exocytosis as “a central mechanism for the release of aggregated & degradation-resistant proteins from neurons”; SNARE-dependent mechanism; Implications for Parkinson’s? (Click here to read more about this).
• New study “highlight the conformational diversity of α-synuclein filaments, requiring additional structural investigation of not only more ex vivo α-synuclein filaments but also in vitro α-synuclein filaments formed in the presence of diverse cofactors” (Click here to read more about this).
• Researchers present data highlighting a mechanism of de novo α-Synuclein oligomerization at mitochondrial membranes & subsequent neuronal toxicity; Mitochondrial lipid cardiolipin (again!) triggers rapid oligomerization of A53T α-Syn. Mitochondrial aggregates impair complex I activity & increase ROS, which accelerates the oligomerization of A53T α-Syn & cell death (Click here to read more about this and click here to read the press summary associated with this research).
• An exploration of threonine-lined cavities as a targetable means to control Parkinson’s-associated alpha-synuclein fibril growth finds that aprepitant (an antiemetic) strongly interacts with fibrils but not monomers (Click here to read more about this).
• A new study explores the effects of a fat-enriched diet in Parkinson’s by examining the brainstem & hippocampal transcriptome of alpha synuclein transgenic mice exposed to a life-long high fat diet; Results point to a failure of metabolic adaptions (Click here to read more about this).
• “Computational, cell biological, & human tissue–based studies establish GPNMB as a GWAS-derived risk gene for Parkinson’s, with higher expression levels mediating pathogenicity through interactions with aSyn” (Click here to read more about this).
• New tool for the longitudinal study of post-inflammatory reactive astrocytes; LCN2 (Lipocalin 2)-CRE-ERT2; “Changes associated with astrogliosis after acute inflammation are largely reversible” (Click here to read more about this).

• New research explores the utility of de novo designed mini proteins (35 to 48 amino acid residues in length) for the inhibition of amyloid aggregation & seeding; New platform & in vivo data for Parkinson’s-associated alpha synuclein (C. elegans – click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript explores the complex relationship between members of the neurovascular unit (perivascular astrocytes, neurons, microglia, & endothelial cells), Parkinson’s-associated alpha synuclein aggregates, & the blood brain barrier (Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript presents the development of a multi-sensor integrated midbrain organoid-on-a-chip platform – a new tool for studying the molecular biology of Parkinson’s (Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript uses iPSC-derived midbrain organoid models to show that lots of stuff goes wrong in the absence of Parkinson’s-associated DJ1, & astrocytes are the master of ceremonies (Click here to read more about this).
• New study confirms age-dependent neurodegeneration of noradrenergic neurons (a condition reminiscent of the presymptomatic stage of Parkinson’s) in short-lived killifish – a useful assay for future research to identify modifying factors? (Click here to read more about this).
• New research finds mitochondrial chaperone tumor necrosis factor receptor-associated protein 1 (TRAP1) participates in lysosomal-mitochondrial cross-talk to maintain homeostasis; TRAP1 agonists ameliorate mitochondrial stress & improve lysosomal function (Click here to read more about this).
• New research from reports that N-terminal acetylation of Parkinson’s-associated alpha synuclein reduces the rate of lipid-induced aggregation, slowing elongation & fibril-catalysed aggregation (Click here to read more about this).

• New research from demonstrates the importance of timing for the expression of the chemokine receptor CXCR4 in the development of midbrain dopamine progenitors/precursors (Click here to read more about this).
• Homozygous human LRRK2-R1441G transgenic mice reproduce some features of Parkinson’s (gait disturbance & exhibited less anxiety-related behavior & exploratory behavior), also increased level of mitochondrial fission (Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript uncovers an unconventional form of PINK1/Parkin mitophagy initiation (via Optineurin) that does not begin with FIP200 binding nor require the ULK1/2 kinases (Click here to read more about this).
• “This suggests that the initiation of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurodegeneration occurs independently of alpha-synuclein aggregation & is likely tau mediated” – A new biorxiv manuscript points towards AT8-phospho-tau first, rather than alpha-synuclein (in Parkinson’s – Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript shows that upregulation of VMAT2 reduces the formation of potentially toxic oxidized dopamine species in their neuromelanin-producing rat model (implications for Parkinson’s? – Click here to read more about this).
• Researchers report cholinergic interneurons signal to dopamine axons with phasic axonal EPSPs (axEPSPs); Spontaneous axEPSPs can evoke spontaneous action potentials locally in the axon; Implications for Parkinson’s? (Click here to read more about this).
• New research finds that C-terminal truncation modulates Parkinson’s-associated α-Synuclein’s cytotoxicity & aggregation by promoting the interactions with membrane & chaperone (Click here to read more about this).
• New protocol for the isolation of distinct species of brain-derived extracellular vesicles including subpopulations of microvesicles (such as exosomes & mitochondria-derived mitovesicles – click here to read more about this).

Disease mechanism

• Researchers present a small molecule (eupalinolide B) targeting USP7, which exerts a therapeutic effect on microglia-mediated neuroinflammation & markedly alleviates neurodegeneration in mouse models of senescence-accelerated dementia & Parkinson’s (Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript report that immunosuppressive drug tocilizumab prevents astrocyte induced neurotoxicity in hiPSC-LRRK2 Parkinson’s cell cultures (via targeting receptor interleukin-6 – click here to read more about this).
• New research presents JM-20 – a benzodiazepine-dihydropyridine hybrid molecule that inhibits the formation of Parkinson’s-associated alpha synuclein-aggregated species (in vitro – click here to read more about this).
• PREPared for PREP? Research report that prolyl oligopeptidase (PREP) inhibition has protective effect in αSyn-based Parkinson’s models… without reducing soluble αSyn oligomers. They compared their PREP inhibitor KYP-2047 to anle138b, nilotinib & deferiprone in vitro; anle138b & nilotinib significantly decreased soluble αSyn oligomers, while KYP-2047 & deferiprone did not (curiously nilotinib promoted the toxicity). They also investigate their PREP inhibitor KYP-2047 in α Syn in vivo models of Parkinson’s, where it significantly reduced proteinase K-resistant α Syn oligomers & oxidative damage related to α Syn aggregation (if administered early – Click here to read more about this).
• Researchers at the biotech firm NodThera have published the discovery & optimization data for triazolopyrimidinone derivatives as selective NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitors; Highlights ‘NDT-30805’ as a useful tool for the development of clinical candidates (for Parkinson’s? – Click here to read more about this).

• New research provides further preclinical data supporting GLP-1, GIP, or dual-GLP-1/GIP receptor agonists for Parkinson’s & Alzheimer’s; Interesting effects on synaptic trans-mission, LTP, & preventing loss of synapses/neurons (Click here to read more about this).
• Researchers from the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly take us from discovery to clinical proof of concept with LY3437943 – a novel triple glucagon, GIP, & GLP-1 receptor agonist for glycemic control & weight loss (if GLP-1R agonists work for Parkinson’s, could this be the next gen? – Click here to read more about this).
• New research explores the peripheral neuroprotective & immunomodulatory effects of 5α-reductase inhibitors (finasteride & dutasteride) in MPTP mouse model of Parkinson’s; Dutasteride prevented enteric neuronal damage (Click here to read more about this).
• New report finds activation of the Parkinson’s-associated lysosomal K+ channel TMEM175 augments apoptosis; In MPTP-treated TMEM175-/- mice motor impairment & neurodegeneration were mitigated (Click here to read more about this).
• Sonic Hedgehog strikes again! “Inhibiting overactive Sonic Hedgehog signaling may be a potential neuroprotective therapy for sporadic Parkinson’s”. They find alterations in gene expression studies that point towards primary cilia (PC); Parkinson’s iPSC-derived neurons = shortening of PC; Also, shortening of PC in PINK1-deficient cells; Shortening of PC = increased SHH; Inhibition of SHH rescues PC morphology (Click here to read more about this).

 

Clinical research

• New report from finds that polygenic risk scores has potential for Parkinson’s risk prediction in Latinos, but variability caused by admixture patterns & European-ancestry PD PRS bias limits its utility (Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv manuscript presents a data-driven study offering insights to help deconstruct Parkinson’s heterogeneity; neurofilament light chain protein identified as a significant indicator of fast disease across 2 cohorts (Click here to read more about this).
• An epigenome-wide association study of the human frontal cortex identifies differential methylation in Lewy body pathology; N=322 + 200 (replication); Novel loci near TMCC2, SFMBT2, AKAP6 & PHYHIP (Click here to read more about this).
• Analysis of data from the Parkinson’s Progression Markers Initiative (PPMI) de novo PD cohort, finds dysautonomia & REM sleep behavior disorder contributions to progression of Parkinson’s phenotypes across the 3-year follow-up period (Click here to read more about this).
• New research involving 571 cases of recently diagnosed Parkinson’s (followed over 2 yrs) found that women with PD had relatively preserved nigrostriatal dopaminergic neuron at diagnosis compared to men (Click here to read more about this).
• A longitudinal study to identify microstructural decline in the entire volume of the corpus callosum in Parkinson’s, finds that the anterior corpus callosum may serve as a viable biomarker for akinetic-rigid symptomology & disease progression (Click here to read more about this).
• New medrxiv manuscript provides the first large-scale multi-ancestry GWAS meta-analysis of Parkinson’s by including individuals from 4 ancestral populations (Click here to read more about this).

• Biomarker characterization of 206 Parkinson’s patients from an Asian cohort identified 3 clusters: A:) severe motor, non-motor & cognitive domains, B:) intermediate cognitive impairment & mild non-motor symptoms, and C:) mild subtype & young age of onset (Click here to read more about this).
• New research provides transcriptomic analysis of primary monocytes from cases of GBA-associated Parkinson’s; They observed dysregulation in genes involved in alpha-synuclein degradation, aging & amyloid processing (Click here to read more about this).
• New research supports the use of compensation strategies in gait rehabilitation for Parkinson’s, but highlight the importance of a personalized approach; “Even patients with high gait variability are able to improve through the application of compensation strategies, but certain levels of cognitive and functional reserve seem necessary to optimally benefit from them” (Click here to read more about this).
• “Add-on exenatide is cost-effective in Parkinson’s combined with diabetes mellitus. Considering that DM may be a risk factor for neurodegenerative diseases, exenatide provides both clinical benefits & cost-effectiveness when considering both PD & DM” (Click here to read more about this).
• Although insensitive to LRRK2 inhibition, a new study identifies “a specific increase” in P-Ser-473-AKT as a potential candidate blood biomarker for peripheral inflammation in LRRK2-G2019S carriers (both with Parkinson’s & non-manifesting carriers – click here to read more about this).
• “The global burden of Parkinson’s is rising quickly, & even access to an essential medicine is not keeping up. WHO correctly considers that “An urgent public health response is necessary to meet the health and social requirements of people with PD” (Click here to read more about this).

• A 5-year follow-up study explores associations between asymmetry of Substantia Nigra hyperechogenicity & clinical characteristics in different Parkinson’s subtypes; N=234, who were divided into tremor PD (TD, n = 67) & non-tremor PD (NTD, n = 167 – click here to read more about this).
• Researchers propose rare variants in the PPARGC1A gene (encoding Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma coactivator 1-alpha (PGC-1α)) “may contribute to the risk of early-onset & familial Parkinson’s”; N=1917 early onset PD & 1962 late onset (Click here to read more about this).
• Long-term safety of MRI-guided administration of AAV2-GDNF & gadoteridol in the putamen of patients with Parkinson’s; Pre-, intra- & serial postoperative (up to 5 yrs after infusion) MR-imaging were analyzed in 13 participants with PD (Click here to read more about this).
• Comparing risk factors for Parkinson’s, coronary events, & ischemic stroke points to the benefits of being female, a non-smoker & not diabetic (Click here to read more about this).
• Elevation of gangliosides across 4 brain regions from individuals with Parkinson’s & GBA mutation; “Changes in ganglioside, but not in GlcCer levels, may contribute to the association between PD & GBA mutations” (Click here to read more about this).
• The development of deep learning tools for video-based automated assessment of movement parameters consistent with MDS-UPDRS III in Parkinson’s – removing the human part of neurology & giving us a nice precise number (Click here to read more about this).
• New biorxiv indicates that neurofilament markers at least partly explain MRI measures that are associated with the neurodegenerative process in Parkinson’s & PDD/DLB (Click here to read more about this).
• New brief communication notes a lack of full sequencing GBA1 studies in patients with Parkinson’s from Latin America (Click here to read more about this).
• A clinical & pathophysiological evaluation of an individual with Parkinson’s who also carried the LRRK2 G2385R risk variant; “Revealed diffuse Lewy bodies with neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid plaques, & mild signs of neuroinflammation”; Elevated Rab10 in the brain (Click here to read more about this).
• Researchers recruit an entirely remote national cohort of LRRK2-G2019S carriers from a single site. Over 15 months, they enrolled 277 LRRK2-G2019S carriers from 34 states in the US; 2/3 were new to research (Click here to read more about this).
• New research from the COURAGE-PD Consortium “further refines the genetic architecture of Chromosome 4 underlying the age of onset of the Parkinson’s phenotype through the identification of BST1 as a novel AAO PD locus”; Also confirmed TMEM175 variant findings (Click here to read more about this).

 

New clinical trials

• A new clinical trial was registered in Bangladesh – researchers will be evaluating doxycycline (50mg 2x daily or placebo) in 60 individuals with levodopa-treated Parkinson’s; 8 weeks treatment randomised, double blinded; UPDRS & C-reactive protein are endpoints (Click here to read more about this).

Clinical trial news

• The results of a study evaluating the interim feasibility, safety & clinical measures of direct delivery of regenerating peripheral nerve tissue to the substantia nigra in participants with Parkinson’s have been published (Click here to read more about this).
• Patients with advanced Parkinson’s receiving levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel exhibit significant sustained improvements in the burden of dyskinesia & non-motor symptoms (such as sleep) for up to 24 months after initiation (Click here to read more about this).
• The “Promoting Independence in Lewy Body Dementia through Exercise” (PRIDE) pilot study was the first exercise trial conducted specifically within individuals diagnosed with LBD; A larger, randomized trial of progressive, high-intensity exercise is needed (Click here to read more about this).
• New research presents results of Phase 1/1b studies of UCB0599, an oral inhibitor of α-Synuclein misfolding, including a randomized study in Parkinson’s; A phase 2, 18 month study in early-stage PD is underway (NCT04658186 – click here to read more about this).

• A 36 months follow up study evaluating deep brain stimulation of the Nucleus Basalis of Meynert for Parkinson’s disease dementia has been published (Click here to read more about this).
• Clinical outcomes of the “PD Check-In” study – a Phase I pilot assessing a model for supported self-managed maintenance of speech in Parkinson’s; Lee Silverman Voice Treatment (Click here to read more about this).
• The Prasinezumab Study Group publish the results of the Pasadena clinical trial of the alpha synuclein targeting monoclonal antibody prasinezumab in 316 individuals with Parkinson’s; The “therapy had no meaningful effect on global or imaging measures” (Click here to read more about this).
• The results of the Biogen SPARK study (of the alpha synuclein targeting antibody cinpanemab in individuals recently diagnosed with Parkinson’s) were published along side the prasinezumab results; No effect based on clinical measures & DaT-SPECT (Click here to read more about this).
• Encouraging Phase 2 results from the Huntington Study Group SIGNAL investigators investigating pepinemab, a semaphorin 4D (SEMA4D)-blocking antibody for treatment of Huntington’s disease (Click here to read more about this).
• News from Kyoto: Prof “Takahashi says that no severe adverse events have been observed so far. Participants are being observed for 2 years after surgery, & their neurological symptoms will be assessed, with results expected in 2024” Parkinson’s IPSC trial (Click here to read more about this).
• Annovis Bio has announced that the 1st patient in the Phase 3 clinical trial evaluating buntanetap (aka ANVS401, Posiphen) in early stage Parkinson’s has been dosed; The trial will enroll a total of 450 participants, treatment for 6 months (Click here to read more about this).

Conferences/lectures

• The 2022 Edinburgh Parkinson’s Lecture will be held on 28th Sept 2022 and will be given by Dr Julie Jones of Robert Gordon University (Aberdeen). The lecture is entitled “The Importance of Exercise for People with Parkinson’s: Evidence, Empowerment and Enablement” (Click here to read more about this).

• “Planning for Parkinson’s Prevention: A trial design forum” – really interesting hybrid conference in October focused on the next generation of clinical trials focused on actual prevention of PD – Boston, Oct 2nd & 3rd 2022 (Click here to read more about this).
• The Grand Challenger in Parkinson’s conference will be held on September 28th & 29th. The topic for this year’s meeting is Modifying Progression — From Molecules to Trials, and it will highlight recent advances that may fuel development of therapies to slow or stop disease progression (Click here to read more about this).

Other news

• Metabolon Inc. has announced it is partnering with the Oxford Parkinson’s Disease Centre to identify metabolomic biomarkers related to Parkinson’s progression & prediction & to detect new therapeutic targets (Click here to read more about this).
• The Parkinson’s Foundation have partnered with Parkinson’s UK on their virtual biotech program. They will further drug discovery development for Parkinson’s as part of a newly established “Venture Philanthropy Fund”. Parkinson’s UK has invested >£16m in Virtual Biotech projects since it was founded in 2017 & are fast tracking 9 promising projects, including a cannabidiol candidate for treating psychosis in Parkinson’s; Parkinson’s foundation will invest a min. of $3m (over £2.4m) over 3 yrs (Click here to read more about this).

Review articles/videos

And there it is, just some of the highlights from August 2022 – another very busy month of Parkinson’s research. Hopefully there will be bits and pieces of interest for everyone in the list. Much of the material used here was collected from the Science of Parkinson’s Twitter feed (and there is a lot more posted there each day).

Any thoughts/feedback would be greatly appreciated (either in the comments below, or contact me directly).

And now: on to September!!!

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You can do whatever you like with it!

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EDITOR’S NOTE: The author of this post is an employee of Cure Parkinson’s, so he might be a little bit biased in his views on research and clinical trials supported by the trust. That said, the trust has not requested the production of this post, and the author is sharing it simply because it may be of interest to the Parkinson’s community.

The information provided by the SoPD website is for information and educational purposes only. Under no circumstances should it ever be considered medical or actionable advice. It is provided by research scientists, not medical practitioners. Any actions taken – based on what has been read on the website – are the sole responsibility of the reader. Any actions being contemplated by readers should firstly be discussed with a qualified healthcare professional who is aware of your medical history. While some of the information discussed in this post may cause concern, please speak with your medical physician before attempting any change in an existing treatment regime.

In addition, many of the companies mentioned in this post are publicly traded companies. That said, the material presented on this page should under no circumstances be considered financial advice. Any actions taken by the reader based on reading this material is the sole responsibility of the reader. None of the companies have requested that this material be produced, nor has the author had any contact with any of the companies or associated parties. This post has been produced for educational purposes only.

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