7 days ago

Investigational Parkinson’s disease dementia therapy fails in clinical trial

Research into new potential therapies for people with Parkinson’s is complex, which means that not all clinical trials will successfully move on to the next phase. This proved to be the case for US biotech company Aptinyx, which announced that it will halt further development work on an investigational therapy following “disappointing” results in the second phase of its study. The research had set out to examine the effect of NYX-458 – an oral therapy created to modulate the activity of receptors in the brain that are responsible for communication between neurons. The aim of the therapy was to improve cognition in people with cognitive impairment linked to Parkinson’s or Lewy body dementia. Yet, when compared to a placebo, the therapy didn’t demonstrate “meaningful improvements” in cognitive function. Dr Andy Kidd, president and CEO at Aptinyx, said: “We are very disappointed that the results of this Phase 2 study did…

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2 weeks ago

A new intimacy guide aims to support people with Parkinson’s disease in the US

Does sexual wellness in the Parkinson’s community need more focus? It’s an area that the American Parkinson Disease Association (APDA) and media brand Havas Health Plus have targeted through the launch of a free intimacy guide. Available to people in the US, ‘The ParkinSex Booklet & Kit’ aims to support those whose relationships may have been impacted by emotional and physical distance linked to the condition. Alongside an educational guide, the kit includes items such as candles, coupons for adaptative clothing and massage stones. Following a positive response to an initial pilot distribution of the guides in the US, there is now a waitlist for future kits. Commenting on the launch in a press release, APDA president and CEO Leslie Chambers said: “The challenges of Parkinson’s can often result in intimacy and connection getting left behind. This is why we created ‘The ParkinSex Booklet & Kit’, to help people with…

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3 weeks ago

How prevalent are non-visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s disease?

Some people in the later stages of Parkinson’s can experience hallucinations – “when you see, hear or feel things that aren’t there”. With most research into this topic centred on visual hallucinations, a team in Australia set out to investigate data around non-visual hallucinations in people with the condition. Published in the ‘Journal of Neurology’, the analysis drew on 91 relevant studies released between 1970 and 2022. The team found that visual hallucinations appeared to be most common, with an expected prevalence of up to 96.6%. Meanwhile, non-visual hallucinations – including auditory (relating to the sense of hearing) and olfactory (relating to the sense of smell) – had an estimated prevalence of up to 73.3%. Concluding that non-visual hallucinations may “impact a notable proportion” of people with the condition, the team said: “More direct research and clinical attention need to be devoted to the study and management of such hallucinatory…

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