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Author: Joe McAweaneyPublished: 12 July 2018

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Due to recent changes in EU law, you must ‘opt-in’ to continue to receive our e-newsletter

On 25 May 2018 General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) laws were passed by the European Union, significantly changing the ways in which businesses and public sector organisations must handle data.

The new laws mean that all consumer information held before this date must be deleted, meaning that people must ‘opt-in’ to keep receiving communications from organisations. For Parkinson’s Life, this means that if you want to keep receiving our weekly e-mail newsletter you must let us know – regardless of whether you have signed up in the past or not. Legally, we must delete your data and cannot communicate with you if you have not signed up.

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We are very proud of the work we do here at Parkinson’s Life, and are looking forward to communicating with as many of you as possible in the future.

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New insights on immune cell process and Parkinson’s disease

Insoluble clumps of the protein alpha-synuclein, which can cause damage to brain cells, have been previously linked to Parkinson’s. Now, scientists in Germany, France and the US have uncovered new details on how brain cells respond to these clusters. The researchers discovered that the brain’s immune cells may be able to join together to break down the protein clumps. According to a press release, this was previously unknown. They also found that these neighbouring cells share mitochondria – structures that generate energy for chemical reactions – to help one another. In certain mutations associated with Parkinson’s, this process may be impaired. The researchers hope this insight could inform the development of new therapies. “We have opened the door to a field that will certainly engage researchers for many years to come,” said Professor Dr Michael Heneka, director of the Department of Neurodegenerative Diseases and Geriatric Psychiatry at the University Hospital…

Could analysing skin oil help diagnose Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease patients tend to have high levels of oil, known as sebum, on their skin’s surface. Now, a study has suggested that analysing this substance may help when diagnosing the condition. The study revealed that sebum contains significant amounts of genetic material, specifically the molecule ribonucleic acid (RNA). Analysis of RNA contained in sebum – that is, skin surface lipids RNA, or SSL-RNA – could offer insights into a person’s health. Researchers in Japan examined SSL-RNA in men and women with and without Parkinson’s. The results suggested that the SSL-RNA profiles of those with Parkinson’s had “different characteristics” than those without. The researchers then tested whether examining these profiles with machine learning could reveal those who had Parkinson’s – and who didn’t. The team’s algorithm indicated a “relatively robust discriminatory ability,” supporting the further use of SSL-RNA as part of a future “non-invasive” method for diagnosis.

‘Sonic hedgehog’ protein could impact Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia

Dyskinesia is often caused by extended use of the common Parkinson’s medication levodopa – and can be debilitating for those with the condition. Now, researchers in the US may have found a way to suppress these involuntary movements through a protein called ‘sonic hedgehog’. To conduct their study, the team administered levodopa and sonic hedgehog agonists to rodent and non-human primate models of the condition. The results revealed that dopamine neurons use the protein to communicate with other neurons thought to play a role in levodopa-induced dyskinesia. Increased signalling of sonic hedgehog pathways was found to reduce this dyskinesia – providing “novel insight” into its formation and a “potential therapeutic solution”. “What we find,” wrote corresponding study author Professor Andreas Kottmann, “is that in several animal models, by replacing … dopamine together with agonists that mimic the effects of sonic hedgehog, these dyskinesias can be very much suppressed.”

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Have you stopped receiving our weekly e-newsletter?

Europe

Author: Joe McAweaneyPublished: 12 July 2018

Prep: Cook: Serves:

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Interviews

“Not one of my friends realised you could get Parkinson’s disease so young”

sponsored article

Advances

How state-of-the-art tech allows DBS upgrades without extra head surgery

Global update

Parkinson’s poetry competition sparks emotional response

New insights on immune cell process and Parkinson’s disease

Could analysing skin oil help diagnose Parkinson’s disease?

‘Sonic hedgehog’ protein could impact Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia

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Have you stopped receiving our weekly e-newsletter?

Europe

Author: Joe McAweaneyPublished: 12 July 2018

Last Month

Next Month

Share this story

Comments

Related articles

Interviews

“Not one of my friends realised you could get Parkinson’s disease so young”

sponsored article

Advances

How state-of-the-art tech allows DBS upgrades without extra head surgery

Global update

Parkinson’s poetry competition sparks emotional response

New insights on immune cell process and Parkinson’s disease

Could analysing skin oil help diagnose Parkinson’s disease?

‘Sonic hedgehog’ protein could impact Parkinson’s disease dyskinesia

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