Promoting Physical Activity in People With Parkinson's Disease Through a Smartphone App: A Pilot Study.

Background And Purpose: Physical activity has beneficial symptomatic effects for people with Parkinson's disease (PD), but increasing-and sustaining-a physically active lifestyle remains challenging. We investigated the feasibility (ability to increase step counts) and usability of a behavioral intervention using a motivational smartphone application to remotely increase physical activity in PD.

Methods: We performed a 4-week, double-blind pilot trial.

Lessons learned for pandemic preparedness in the neurodegenerative research and clinical fields: an advice report based on Parkinson's disease as an example.

Background: A sustainable pandemic preparedness strategy is essential to ensure equitable access to healthcare for individuals with neurodegenerative diseases. Moreover, it is vital to provide clinicians and researchers in the neurodegenerative disease fields with resources and infrastructure to ensure continuity of their work during a (health) crisis.

Methods: We established an international collaboration between researchers, clinicians, and patient representatives from the Netherlands, Poland, and the United Kingdom.

Environmental Risk Factors for Parkinson's Disease: A Critical Review and Policy Implications.

The age-standardized prevalence of Parkinson's disease (PD) has increased substantially over the years and is expected to increase further. This emphasizes the need to identify modifiable risk factors of PD, which could form a logical entry point for the prevention of PD. The World Health Organization (WHO) has recommended reducing exposure to specific environmental factors that have been reported to be associated with PD, in particular pesticides, trichloroethylene (TCE), and air pollution.

Exploring the Impact of Parkinson's Disease on Driving: A Population-Based Survey.

Background: Persons with Parkinson's disease (PD) experience progressive motor and non-motor symptoms which may influence their ability to drive a car. This is experienced as a massive challenge by many affected individuals, for whom being able to drive a car is vital to maintain functional independence.

Objectives: We assessed how the diagnosis of PD affected the possession of a driving license, how people with PD had adapted their driving style, and to what extent they had communicated about their driving ability with their healthcare professionals.

Gut Microbial Metabolites and Future Risk of Parkinson's Disease: A Metabolome-Wide Association Study.

Background: Alterations in gut microbiota are observed in Parkinson's disease (PD). Previous studies on microbiota-derived metabolites in PD were small-scale and post-diagnosis, raising concerns about reverse causality.

Objectives: Our goal was to prospectively investigate the association between plasma microbial metabolites and PD risk within a metabolomics framework.