The Science of Parkinson's
@scienceofpd.bsky.social
Personal account of the Director of Research at Cure Parkinson's - All views my own - Kiwi - Kia kaha - 侘寂 - https://scienceofparkinsons.com/
Large cohort study finds plasma pTau217 (but not GFAP or NfL) levels accurately reflect the presence of #Alzheimer neuropathological change in the brain even in individuals with a primary neuropathologic diagnosis of a non-AD dementia
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
Postmortem Associations Between Alzheimer Disease Pathology and Plasma pTau217, GFAP, and NfL in AD and AD-Related Dementias | Neurology
Background and ObjectivesAlzheimer disease (AD) and its related disorders (ADRDs) are characterized by a high
frequency of copathologies. We aimed to determine the specificity of plasma pTau217,
glial...
www.neurology.org
January 30, 2026 at 5:19 PM
Large cohort study finds plasma pTau217 (but not GFAP or NfL) levels accurately reflect the presence of #Alzheimer neuropathological change in the brain even in individuals with a primary neuropathologic diagnosis of a non-AD dementia
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
Researchers report induction of #Parkinsons α-synuclein pathology in the rodent brain stimulates energy metabolism; Aberrant ROCK2 & SPP1 signaling reflect progressive tissue damage; CREBBP expression could be a marker of advanced α-synuclein pathology
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
January 30, 2026 at 5:15 PM
Researchers report induction of #Parkinsons α-synuclein pathology in the rodent brain stimulates energy metabolism; Aberrant ROCK2 & SPP1 signaling reflect progressive tissue damage; CREBBP expression could be a marker of advanced α-synuclein pathology
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
New research finds oral NAD-augmentation with nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide requires ∼2 weeks to reach steady-state, & the extent of NAD augmentation is independent of sex & #Parkinsons status
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
January 30, 2026 at 5:09 PM
New research finds oral NAD-augmentation with nicotinamide riboside or nicotinamide mononucleotide requires ∼2 weeks to reach steady-state, & the extent of NAD augmentation is independent of sex & #Parkinsons status
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
www.cell.com/iscience/ful...
ABLi Therapeutics announces their c-Abl inhibitor Risvodetinib will be one of the agents on the Michael J Fox Foundation's "Path to Prevention" platform trial (expected to launch in the coming months) assessing safety & efficacy in pre- #Parkinsons cohorts
www.ablitherapeutics.com/news/detail/...
www.ablitherapeutics.com/news/detail/...
ABLi Therapeutics, Inc. | Innovative Treatments for Neurodegenerative Diseases
Developing disease-modifying therapies for Parkinson's and related neurodegenerative diseases through targeting Abelson Tyrosine Kinases.
www.ablitherapeutics.com
January 30, 2026 at 5:03 PM
ABLi Therapeutics announces their c-Abl inhibitor Risvodetinib will be one of the agents on the Michael J Fox Foundation's "Path to Prevention" platform trial (expected to launch in the coming months) assessing safety & efficacy in pre- #Parkinsons cohorts
www.ablitherapeutics.com/news/detail/...
www.ablitherapeutics.com/news/detail/...
Analysing urinary proteomes from 1215 individuals across 3 cohorts & integrating whole-genome sequencing from >500 participants, researchers find 177 urinary proteins associated with pathogenic LRRK2, enriched for lyso, immune, & membrane-trafficking paths
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 30, 2026 at 11:38 AM
Analysing urinary proteomes from 1215 individuals across 3 cohorts & integrating whole-genome sequencing from >500 participants, researchers find 177 urinary proteins associated with pathogenic LRRK2, enriched for lyso, immune, & membrane-trafficking paths
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
A double-blinded, randomised feasibility trial finds spinal cord stimulation therapy was well-tolerated for gait impairment in #Parkinsons, but it did not significantly improve Postural Instability and Gait Disorder (PIGD) score at 6 months
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 30, 2026 at 11:34 AM
A double-blinded, randomised feasibility trial finds spinal cord stimulation therapy was well-tolerated for gait impairment in #Parkinsons, but it did not significantly improve Postural Instability and Gait Disorder (PIGD) score at 6 months
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Transcriptome analyses reveal a demyelination-related features in multiple system atrophy (MSA) oligodendrocytes; Elevated TLR2 expression in MSA oligodendrocytes inversely correlates with MBP expression, & this correlation is absent in #Parkinsons
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 30, 2026 at 9:30 AM
Transcriptome analyses reveal a demyelination-related features in multiple system atrophy (MSA) oligodendrocytes; Elevated TLR2 expression in MSA oligodendrocytes inversely correlates with MBP expression, & this correlation is absent in #Parkinsons
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Building on the success of Centiloids for #Alzheimers, researchers present the "Centamine scale" holds promise for the harmonized quantification of dopaminergic neuronal imaging markers for #Parkinsons & related synucleinopathies
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 29, 2026 at 9:39 PM
Building on the success of Centiloids for #Alzheimers, researchers present the "Centamine scale" holds promise for the harmonized quantification of dopaminergic neuronal imaging markers for #Parkinsons & related synucleinopathies
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Researchers find that targeting mitochondrial morphology is a viable strategy for identifying strategies for treating α-synucleinopathies, highlighting Fis1 as a promising preventive/therapeutic target
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 29, 2026 at 9:32 PM
Researchers find that targeting mitochondrial morphology is a viable strategy for identifying strategies for treating α-synucleinopathies, highlighting Fis1 as a promising preventive/therapeutic target
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New research finds that "synchronisation within the basal ganglia is not a spatially static phenomenon but rather unfolds in space which expands on the current understanding of basal ganglia mechanism"; High-frequency propagation may be a useful marker
academic.oup.com/brain/advanc...
academic.oup.com/brain/advanc...
January 29, 2026 at 9:29 PM
New research finds that "synchronisation within the basal ganglia is not a spatially static phenomenon but rather unfolds in space which expands on the current understanding of basal ganglia mechanism"; High-frequency propagation may be a useful marker
academic.oup.com/brain/advanc...
academic.oup.com/brain/advanc...
Cool - can targeting sleep stage-specific neurophysiologies with adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation help ameliorate sleep disruption? Researchers give different stimulation in different sleep stage in people with #Parkinsons
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 29, 2026 at 9:25 PM
Cool - can targeting sleep stage-specific neurophysiologies with adaptive Deep Brain Stimulation help ameliorate sleep disruption? Researchers give different stimulation in different sleep stage in people with #Parkinsons
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Researchers design small peptidomimetics based on the structure of #Parkinsons -associated α-synuclein aggregates & its chaperone protein αB-Crystallin, & they find that the αB-Crystallin-based compound was able to interfere with αSyn folding & aggregation
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
January 29, 2026 at 9:17 PM
Researchers design small peptidomimetics based on the structure of #Parkinsons -associated α-synuclein aggregates & its chaperone protein αB-Crystallin, & they find that the αB-Crystallin-based compound was able to interfere with αSyn folding & aggregation
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
pubs.acs.org/doi/10.1021/...
An article from a few years back, but I just discovered it tonight. Interesting perspective: A neurodegeneration researcher diagnosed with #Parkinsons, who gives future pharmacists a personal account, as well as the observations of a trained scientist
magazine.ucsf.edu/professor-se...
magazine.ucsf.edu/professor-se...
This Professor Sees Brain Disease through a Unique Lens
Every fall, Matt Jacobson relives his Parkinson’s diagnosis so future pharmacists perceive the patient behind the prescription.
magazine.ucsf.edu
January 29, 2026 at 9:09 PM
An article from a few years back, but I just discovered it tonight. Interesting perspective: A neurodegeneration researcher diagnosed with #Parkinsons, who gives future pharmacists a personal account, as well as the observations of a trained scientist
magazine.ucsf.edu/professor-se...
magazine.ucsf.edu/professor-se...
New research "emphasizes the importance of separating aperiodic neural activity from periodic oscillations as a progressive alteration of the aperiodic component represented the most prominent #Parkinsons-related neurophysiological change" (I have no idea)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 29, 2026 at 5:55 PM
New research "emphasizes the importance of separating aperiodic neural activity from periodic oscillations as a progressive alteration of the aperiodic component represented the most prominent #Parkinsons-related neurophysiological change" (I have no idea)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
New study finds that moderate alcohol consumption & smoking are associated with a reduced risk of #Parkinsons, with effects that are strongly influenced by sex, genetic susceptibility, & combined exposure
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 29, 2026 at 5:51 PM
New study finds that moderate alcohol consumption & smoking are associated with a reduced risk of #Parkinsons, with effects that are strongly influenced by sex, genetic susceptibility, & combined exposure
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
New research finds elevated levels of class I HDACs in motor cortex in #Parkinsons patients & bidirectional changes in their regional density in the Lewy body dementias; In PD, [11C]Martinostat uptake was⬆️in precentral gyrus & correlated with H&Y stage
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
January 29, 2026 at 5:36 PM
New research finds elevated levels of class I HDACs in motor cortex in #Parkinsons patients & bidirectional changes in their regional density in the Lewy body dementias; In PD, [11C]Martinostat uptake was⬆️in precentral gyrus & correlated with H&Y stage
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
link.springer.com/article/10.1...
Researchers present the clinical decision support (CDS) platform for #Parkinsons - a modular & extensible informatics platform for clinicians & researchers with comprehensive functionalities for recording relevant patient information
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 29, 2026 at 5:28 PM
Researchers present the clinical decision support (CDS) platform for #Parkinsons - a modular & extensible informatics platform for clinicians & researchers with comprehensive functionalities for recording relevant patient information
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Researchers report that elevated ceramide levels & biosynthesis genes in #Parkinsons brains; Inhibiting de novo ceramide biosynthesis (via myriocin) decreases α-synuclein aggregation & improves motor & cognitive function in A53T α-synuclein transgenic mice
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 29, 2026 at 5:24 PM
Researchers report that elevated ceramide levels & biosynthesis genes in #Parkinsons brains; Inhibiting de novo ceramide biosynthesis (via myriocin) decreases α-synuclein aggregation & improves motor & cognitive function in A53T α-synuclein transgenic mice
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Lot of a-syn seeding amplification assay status research today - new imaging report finds positive cases exhibit more dopaminergic deficit, whereas negative cases have more subcortical atrophy across both sporadic & genetic #Parkinsons
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 29, 2026 at 11:21 AM
Lot of a-syn seeding amplification assay status research today - new imaging report finds positive cases exhibit more dopaminergic deficit, whereas negative cases have more subcortical atrophy across both sporadic & genetic #Parkinsons
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
Ever wondered about the clinical characteristic of a-synuclein seed amplification assay negative cases? Me too. New research looks at 80 cases & finds lower rate of hyposmia at baseline, but otherwise no diff clinically (1/7 got re-diagnosed)
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
January 29, 2026 at 11:05 AM
Ever wondered about the clinical characteristic of a-synuclein seed amplification assay negative cases? Me too. New research looks at 80 cases & finds lower rate of hyposmia at baseline, but otherwise no diff clinically (1/7 got re-diagnosed)
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
movementdisorders.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1002/...
A comparison of 4 labs, assessing the performance of the α-Synuclein seed amplification assay for Dementia With Lewy Bodies, "highlights challenges for the reproducibility of α-syn SAA results across different protocols applied by different laboratories"
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
January 29, 2026 at 10:59 AM
A comparison of 4 labs, assessing the performance of the α-Synuclein seed amplification assay for Dementia With Lewy Bodies, "highlights challenges for the reproducibility of α-syn SAA results across different protocols applied by different laboratories"
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
www.neurology.org/doi/10.1212/...
New research reports that #Parkinsons -associated α-synuclein is the major modulator of substantia nigra somatodendritic dopamine release. The researchers find that α-synuclein controls the activity of the L-type calcium ion channels; asyn KO=⬇️plasticity
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
January 29, 2026 at 10:55 AM
New research reports that #Parkinsons -associated α-synuclein is the major modulator of substantia nigra somatodendritic dopamine release. The researchers find that α-synuclein controls the activity of the L-type calcium ion channels; asyn KO=⬇️plasticity
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
www.science.org/doi/10.1126/...
Intestinal macrophages modulate synucleinopathy along the gut–brain axis; Muscularis macrophages in PD mouse model contain misfolded α-Syn, adopt a signature reflecting endolysosomal dysfunc. & modulate expansion of T cells
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 28, 2026 at 11:16 PM
Intestinal macrophages modulate synucleinopathy along the gut–brain axis; Muscularis macrophages in PD mouse model contain misfolded α-Syn, adopt a signature reflecting endolysosomal dysfunc. & modulate expansion of T cells
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
Analysis of serum phosphorylated tau 217 in GBA1 variant carriers with & without #Parkinsons finds no differences between PD groups, but non-manifesting GBA1 variant carriers had higher levels than controls
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
January 28, 2026 at 11:07 PM
Analysis of serum phosphorylated tau 217 in GBA1 variant carriers with & without #Parkinsons finds no differences between PD groups, but non-manifesting GBA1 variant carriers had higher levels than controls
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/...
New research finds clonal CD8+ T cells populate the leptomeninges; Leptomeningeal immune cells undergo both shared & disease-specific shifts at late stages of neurodegeneration (myeloid changes in #Parkinsons /LBD)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
January 28, 2026 at 7:44 PM
New research finds clonal CD8+ T cells populate the leptomeninges; Leptomeningeal immune cells undergo both shared & disease-specific shifts at late stages of neurodegeneration (myeloid changes in #Parkinsons /LBD)
www.nature.com/articles/s41...
www.nature.com/articles/s41...