Movement Disorders Foundation

Researchers are gaining new insight into an often-overlooked symptom of Parkinson’s disease: the loss of smell. According to scientists, olfactory dysfunction affects up to 90% of people with Parkinson’s and can appear years before the hallmark movement symptoms, such as tremor and stiffness, develop.

Researchers highlight the critical role of the olfactory bulb, a small brain structure that processes smells and is closely connected to areas responsible for memory and emotion. Because Parkinson’s-related changes may begin in or near these pathways, smell loss is increasingly being studied as a potential early biomarker of disease.

“Identifying early symptoms like loss of smell … could serve as a biomarker, alerting us to the presence of the disease,” the author notes. Earlier detection could allow patients to access treatments and interventions before significant neurological damage occurs.

Researchers also report that smell loss in Parkinson’s is often selective, with patients having greater difficulty identifying neutral or unpleasant odors. While smell testing alone cannot diagnose Parkinson’s disease, scientists believe it may become an important tool when combined with other clinical assessments to support earlier diagnosis and improve patient care. Click below to learn more.

The surprising Parkinson’s warning sign that can appear years before diagnosis A loss of smell can be an early indicator of neurodegenerative diseases

Researchers from University of Copenhagen and Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital have uncovered new clues about why multiple system atrophy (MSA) progresses so aggressively. In a study published in Nature Communications, scientists analyzed more than 117,000 brain cells from patients with MSA, Parkinson’s disease, and individuals without neurological disease using advanced single-cell RNA sequencing.

Lead researcher Konstantin Khodosevich found that microglia — the brain’s immune cells responsible for clearing harmful proteins and damaged cells — appeared unusually inactive in MSA patients. “It appears that the brain’s immune cells are dozy or exhausted, as if they have lost their ability to respond,” Khodosevich said.

The findings suggest that immune cell exhaustion may contribute to disease progression and identify microglia as a potential target for future therapies. Researchers caution that more studies are needed to determine whether early immune overactivation leads to this exhausted state. Click below to learn more.

'Garbage collectors' of the brain grind to a halt in fatal multiple system atrophy Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare and fatal brain disorder with no available treatment or cure, attacking the nervous system, balance, and the ability to move. The disease in many ways resembles Parkinson's disease, but it strikes earlier and progresses more aggressively.

A new Phase III clinical trial suggests that ecopipam may become the first medication developed specifically for children with Tourette syndrome. Researchers found that continued treatment with the investigational drug reduced the risk of tic relapse by 50% compared with placebo over 24 weeks. The study, published in JAMA Neurology, involved 216 participants across 77 clinical sites.

The trial was led by Donald Gilbert of Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. Unlike currently approved medications, which target dopamine D2 receptors and can cause weight gain and Parkinson-like side effects, ecopipam works through dopamine D1 receptors. Researchers reported that participants experienced significant improvement in motor and vocal tics without developing additional movement disorders or substantial weight gain.

“I hope this will be the first drug approved specifically for Tourette syndrome in the US,” Gilbert said. Drug developer Emalex Biosciences plans to seek U.S. FDA approval for the treatment. Click https://u8kdxrabb.cc.rs6.net/tn.jsp?f=001nXs6gzkmw0n20vS8n7jUedei2OvKQGBN-g__QuBsPZgWNc-PGkwZWxSP39QY21lGTDJdUhBYYqGHe4qjTt4C8N1tUq5b_yM3SdzgqVezusxvAx3JoISG8ZgLZvy3KZqEi3VnFbyWjcanAmHd4HA--H5PA4CFn53kztF5vbcZQaOym_VcaVkCnvJnB9O0OoXEl3RVXPWPttwPQ5hDPpR6o67jsEoHplZ77WkO8e6h2uqnGEC4aHAxXD92gImtnzeL1iHiZPXgykKm-HOh95-mYA==&c=&ch= to learn more.

Researchers at Carnegie Mellon University have identified distinct brain circuits linked to different symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, a discovery that may help guide more personalized treatments. In a study led by neuroscientist Aryn Gittis, investigators examined activity in the motor thalamus, a brain region that coordinates movement signals between the basal ganglia and cerebellum.

Using two mouse models, researchers compared brain activity associated with tremor and slowed movement, or bradykinesia. First author Shruti Nanivadekar of the University of Pittsburgh found that bradykinesia involved widespread disruptions across motor circuits, while tremor-related dysfunction was concentrated in cerebellum-linked regions.

“Different Parkinson’s symptoms may emerge from different brain circuits,” Nanivadekar said. The findings may explain why dopamine-based therapies often improve slowed movement but are less effective for tremor, and could support development of more targeted therapies and refined deep brain stimulation approaches. Click below to learn more.

Parkinson’s Symptoms Trace to Distinct Brain Circuits Research from Carnegie Mellon University’s Aryn Gittis and colleagues suggests the most recognizable symptoms of Parkinson's disease — tremor and slowed movement — result from disruptions in different motor circuits of the brain, an insight that could help explain why current treatments don’...