Welcome to our Hot Topics page. Here we have compiled the latest news and updates in Parkinson’s research, including articles, papers and talks from world-leading Parkinson’s researchers. Check back here to see what’s new!
Cure Parkinsons recently organised a webinar in which experts debated the significance of Parkinson’s trials targeting alpha-synuclein.
At this webinar, Professor Tilo Kunath of Edinburgh University is joined by a panel of experts in the field of alpha-synuclein research, answering questions such as: What is alpha-synunclein, what does it do, and why does it aggregate in Parkinson’s? Are there different types of alpha-synuclein? Is alpha-synuclein the right target in seeking to slow the progression of Parkinson’s? What does the clinical trials landscape look like for targeting alpha-synuclein?
Joining Professor Kunath is: Gennaro Pagano, Expert Medical Director & Group Leader from Roche Pharma Research, Carroll Siu, person living with Parkinson’s and advisor to biopharmaceutical company UCB, on clinical outcomes; and Hilal Lashuel, Associate Professor of Life Sciences and Director of the Laboratory of Chemical Biology of Neurodegeneration, Brain Mind Institute.
PARKINSON’S RESEARCH INFO AND TRIALS
CAN ELECTRICAL STIMULATION OF THE MEDIAN NERVE AT THE ARM REDUCE TREMOR IN PARKINSON’S?
Professor Stephen Jackson, Professor of Cognitive Neuroscience at the University of Nottingham is planning a project to investigate if sending electrical signals to the median nerve via a device attached to the wrist can reduce tremor in Parkinson’s. Professor Jackson has already had some success at reducing the severity of tic disorder, including Tourette syndrome with his Neuropulse device and he is now planning new research to discover if a similar approach could be helpful in reducing tremor in Parkinson’s. He has asked for PEMRIG’s collaboration in planning and developing this research.
Background work from brain imaging has demonstrated that PD tremor is linked to activity in two, partially overlapping brain networks that converge within an area of the brain called the cortical sensorimotor area (MC). Professor Jackson’s group have demonstrated previously that rhythmic electrical median nerve stimulation can modulate brain oscillations with the MC and reduce motor symptoms in tic disorders like Tourette syndrome. Previous studies have demonstrated the potential of peripheral electrical stimulation as an intervention to reduce both essential tremor and PD tremor so the approach will be to deliver painless, low current, electrical stimulation that activates nerve pathways that are linked to tremor, and which converge in the MC. Hopefully this may reduce tremor, one of several disturbing motor problems of Parkinson’s.
Professor Jackson plans to co-create his research in collaboration with PEMRIG who will provide his team with information about the lived experience of PD tremor, including why it is important to research this as seen from the perspective of People with Parkinson’s. PEMRIG will also help ensure that any written information is communicated in a manner appropriate for a lay audience, help recruit a representative sample of individuals with PD tremor and help disseminate the team’s research findings to the PD community.
No Silver Bullet
The No Silver Bullet group of PwP have created a YouTube channel at which you can access all the talks they have organised. They are worth listening to especially the lecture by Professor Bas Bloem entitled ‘What type of exercise is best for people with PD’. This talk was followed by an informative question and answer session. The link to the site is:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCN2A0vGOY6j13Ed1rV64gPQ/featured
A recent talk in the No Silver Bullet series entitled ‘PD research takeaways from 2022 and research to be looking for in 2023’ was given by Dr Simon Stott of the Cure Parkinson’s Trust on Tuesday, January10th 2023. Dr Stott always gives a most upbeat talk and this was no exception-full of interest with some details of forthcoming trials. You can access his talk below:
Simon also has a web site The Science of Parkinson’s – Plain English information about the research being conducted on Parkinson’s at https://scienceofparkinsons.com/about/
On the Cure Parkinson’s Trust site and in his No Silver Bullet lecture Simon also describes the ASPro-PD trial, a world-first phase 3 trial aimed at establishing the potential of ambroxol, a drug used to treat respiratory conditions, to slow the progression of Parkinson’s. In collaboration with the Van Andel Institute and the John Black Charitable Foundation. You will find more about the ambroxal trial at https://cureparkinsons.org.uk/research/amtakepart/
PARKINSON’S TRIAL NEWS
THE INSIGHT-PD STUDY
This project is being run at the University of Nottingham by Dr Tayyib Hayat MRCP PhD, a neurology Clinical Research Fellow. The study plans to investigate the use of ‘In vivo serial neuromelanin MRI to assess depigmentation rates in the substantia nigra of early Parkinson’s disease’. Dr Hayat is particularly looking for people in the early stages of Parkinson’s who have been diagnosed in the last 2-3 years. The study lasts for two years and will involve MRI scans. Contact Dr Hayat by emailing him at tayyib.hayat1@nottingham.ac.uk
SPEECH RESEARCH OPPORTUNITY
Could you help other people with Parkinson’s by recording your voice reading a few paragraphs and talking about your hobbies or interests?
Paul Gadd, Director of Protocol IT, is looking for volunteers with Parkinson’s to help record some speech to create an Artificial Intelligence network for converting speech to text for those living with PD. Recording can either take place on campus Loughborough University, or he can visit your home to record your speech for about 30-45 minutes, then return every 3-4 months to record changes to your speech. If interested, please email info@protocolit.co.uk or call 01509 278645. More details are available at: http://www.protocolit.co.uk/parkinsons-speech-research/
MORE TRIALS URGENTLY RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS NOW
Balance and falls. A phase 3 clinical trial of a sticky medication patch for falls in Parkinson’s (CHIEF-PD). It has 3 months left to recruit around 300 participants. Learn more about the CHIEF-PD trial. See the Editor’s Chief-PD Blog on Page 5
Daily living and drooling. A trial of a wrist-worn device assisting daily life of people with Parkinson’s as well as seeing if it can manage drooling. We have 4 months left to recruit around 3,000 participants. Find out more about the device and drooling trial. This trial is also looking for anyone with Parkinson’s to trial the device. Learn more about the general device trial.
Hallucinations. A trial looking at repurposing an existing drug to see if it can help with Parkinson’s hallucinations (TOPHAT). It has 20 months left to recruit about 250 participants. Find out more about the TOPHAT trial.
Anxiety. A study looking to better understand anxiety in Parkinson’s (AND-PD). There are 9 months left to recruit around 130 participants. The study is looking for people with and without Parkinson’s. Discover more about the AND-PD study
Low mood. A trial to test a potential treatment for low mood in Parkinson’s and to see if it can slow the progression of the condition (ADEPT-PD). It has 10 months left to recruit around 300 participants. Learn more about the ADEPT-PD trial.
THE PD FRONTLINE AND RAPSODI STUDY
The PD Frontline and RAPSODI study is investigating how mutations in the GBA gene which codes for the GCase enzyme are involved in the onset of Parkinson’s. This is described in an interesting webinar which is available at: this link
For more information, please read the participant information sheet.
TAKING PART IN PARKINSON’S RESEARCH: For people who wish to participate, please visit the Parkinson’s UK Take Part Hub, a postcode searchable database of studies actively recruiting participants. The Hub is updated weekly with new studies, so please check it regularly: https://www.parkinsons.org.uk/research/take-part-research
(And for those people not online, you can call the Parkinson’s UK free, confidential Helpline on 0808 800 0303 and trained Advisors will be able to discuss what you are interested in and help find studies for you.)
RESEARCH HOT NEWS
Chronic inflammation is now regarded as a key feature of Parkinson’s. So it is good news to read that the Michael J Fox Foundation has given Muna Therapeutics of Copenhagen, Denmark, a grant of $4.9 million to develop small molecule drugs that block the overactive microglial cells which contribute to the neuroinflammation observed in Parkinson’s. Read more about this in the October 14th edition of Parkinson’s News Today at https://parkinsonsnewstoday.com
PEMRIG 