Category: Parkinson’s News

Featuring works by artists Frank Bowling, Bouke de Vries and Rana Begum, acclaimed selling exhibition Cure³ will be returning for a fifth edition in 2025

Researchers at Kumamoto University have unveiled a significant mechanism behind the aggregation of proteins linked to neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s Disease, SciTech Daily revealed yesterday. Led by Professor Norifumi Shioda and Associate Professor Yasushi Yabuki, the team discovered that G-quadruplexes (G4s), unique RNA structures, play a crucial role in promoting the harmful aggregation of α-synuclein, …

The protein PNA5 could possibly prevent cognitive decline in people who have Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, researchers report.

Robbie Williams has revealed his mother Janet has been diagosed with dementia.

Comedy icon Sir Billy Connolly previously opened up about his heartbreaking Parkinson’s diagnosis for a TV show and gave a sobering comment about his health condition

Download the latest edition of our biannual newsletter, Cure InSight, and find out more about the newest developments in research, fundraising and

Background Variants in the CTSB gene encoding the lysosomal hydrolase cathepsin B (catB) are associated with increased risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD). However, neither the specific CTSB variants driving these associations nor the functional pathways that link catB to PD pathogenesis have been characterized. CatB activity contributes to lysosomal protein degradation and regulates signaling processes involved in autophagy and lysosome biogenesis. Previous in vitro studies have found that catB can cleave monomeric and fibrillar alpha-synuclein, a key protein involved in the pathogenesis of PD that accumulates in the brains of PD patients. However, truncated synuclein isoforms generated by catB cleavage have an increased propensity to aggregate. Thus, catB activity could potentially contribute to lysosomal degradation and clearance of pathogenic alpha synuclein from the cell, but also has the potential of enhancing synuclein pathology by generating aggregation-prone truncations. Therefore, the mechanisms linking catB to PD pathophysiology remain to be clarified. Methods Here, we conducted genetic analyses of the association between common and rare CTSB variants and risk of PD. We then used genetic and pharmacological approaches to manipulate catB expression and function in cell lines, induced pluripotent stem cell-derived dopaminergic neurons and midbrain organoids and assessed lysosomal activity and the handling of aggregated synuclein fibrils. Results We find that catB inhibition impairs autophagy, reduces glucocerebrosidase (encoded by GBA1) activity, and leads to an accumulation of lysosomal content. In cell lines, reduction of CTSB gene expression impairs the degradation of pre-formed alpha-synuclein fibrils, whereas CTSB gene activation enhances fibril clearance. In midbrain organoids and dopaminergic neurons treated with alpha-synuclein fibrils, catB inhibition potentiates the formation of inclusions which stain positively for phosphorylated alpha-synuclein. Conclusions These results indicate that the reduction of catB function negatively impacts lysosomal pathways associated with PD pathogenesis, while conversely catB activation could promote the clearance of pathogenic alpha-synuclein.

NFL News: NFL legend Brett Favre has revealed his battle with Parkinson’s disease. Diagnosed after experiencing arm issues, Favre experiences stiffness and diff

Former NFL quarterback Brett Favre opened in a recent interview about about living with Parkinson’s disease and his hope for the future.

Wrexham ran out 3-0 winners over Exeter City in League One on Saturday, thanks to goals from Max Cleworth, Ollie Palmer and Oliver Rathbone.