Icaritin alleviates motor impairment and osteoporosis in Parkinson's disease mice via the ER-PI3K/Akt pathway.

This study investigates the role of flavonoid Icaritin (ICT) in estrogen-deficient ovariectomized (OVX) female mice by activating the Estrogen receptor (ER)/ Phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/Protein kinase B (Akt) signaling pathway, potentially delaying Parkinson's disease (PD) progression post-castration. Seventy-five 8-week-old C57BL/6J female mice underwent ovariectomy, followed by MPTP (20 mg/kg) injection for 7 days. ICT (20 mg/kg) was administered for 14 days, and motor function was assessed using various behavioral tests.

Adolescent mice exposed to TBI developed PD-like pathology in middle age.

Traumatic brain injury (TBI) is identified as a risk factor for Parkinson's disease (PD), which is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra (SN). However, the precise mechanism by which chronic TBI initiates PD pathogenesis is not yet fully understood. In our present study, we assessed the chronic progression and pathogenesis of PD-like behavior at different intervals in TBI mice.

Distinct CSF α-synuclein aggregation profiles associated with Alzheimer's disease phenotypes and MCI-to-AD conversion.

Background: α-Synuclein (α-Syn) pathology is present in 30-50 % of Alzheimer's disease (AD) patients, and its interactions with tau proteins may further exacerbate pathological changes in AD. However, the specific role of different aggregation forms of α-Syn in the progression of AD remains unclear.

Objectives: To explore the relationship between various aggregation types of CSF α-Syn and Alzheimer's disease progression.

Intranasal oxytocin for apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia (FOXY): a multicentre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, adaptive, crossover, phase 2a/2b superiority trial.

Background: No treatments exist for apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia. Previously, in a randomised double-blind, placebo-controlled, dose-finding study, intranasal oxytocin administration in people with frontotemporal dementia improved apathy ratings on the Neuropsychiatric Inventory over 1 week and, in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, a single dose of 72 IU oxytocin increased blood-oxygen-level-dependent signal in limbic brain regions. We aimed to determine whether longer treatment with oxytocin improves apathy in people with frontotemporal dementia.

SynPull: An advanced method for studying neurodegeneration-related aggregates in synaptosomes using super-resolution microscopy.

Synaptic dysfunction is a primary hallmark of both Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, leading to cognitive and behavioral decline. While alpha-synuclein, beta-amyloid, and tau are involved in the physiological functioning of synapses, their pathological aggregation has been linked to synaptopathology. The methodology for studying the small-soluble protein aggregates formed by these proteins is limited.

Estrogen deficiency promotes neurodegeneration in female hemi-parkinsonian mice: The role of regulatory T cells.

Background: Circulating levels of the female hormone estrogen has been associated with the development of Parkinson's disease (PD), although the underlying mechanism remains unclear. Immune homeostasis mediated by peripheral regulatory T cells (Treg) is a crucial factor in PD. The aim of this study was to explore the effects of estrogen deficiency on neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration in a rodent model of PD, with particular reference to Treg.

How to Manage an Individual Living with Parkinson's Disease Who Acutely Cannot Swallow.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative condition that can lead to problems swallowing. Individuals living with PD may be unable to take medications orally for various reasons including acute or chronic dysphagia, non-PD related causes and being placed nil-by-mouth for elective reasons. This article outlines a five-step approach to managing an individual living with PD who is unable to take oral medication acutely.

Mechanisms of Copper-Induced Autophagy and Links with Human Diseases.

As a structural and catalytic cofactor, copper is involved in many biological pathways and is required for the biochemistry of all living organisms. However, excess intracellular copper can induce cell death due to its potential to catalyze the generation of reactive oxygen species, thus copper homeostasis is strictly regulated. And the deficiency or accumulation of intracellular copper is connected with various pathological conditions.

Passive Monitoring of Parkinson Tremor in Daily Life: A Prototypical Network Approach.

Objective and continuous monitoring of Parkinson's disease (PD) tremor in free-living conditions could benefit both individual patient care and clinical trials, by overcoming the snapshot nature of clinical assessments. To enable robust detection of tremor in the context of limited amounts of labeled training data, we propose to use prototypical networks, which can embed domain expertise about the heterogeneous tremor and non-tremor sub-classes. We evaluated our approach using data from the Parkinson@Home Validation study, including 8 PD patients with tremor, 16 PD patients without tremor, and 24 age-matched controls.

Biomechanics Parameters of Gait Analysis to Characterize Parkinson's Disease: A Scoping Review.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by a slow, short-stepping, shuffling gait pattern caused by a combination of motor control limitations due to a reduction in dopaminergic neurons. Gait disorders are indicators of global health, cognitive status, and risk of falls and increase with disease progression. Therefore, the use of quantitative information on the gait mechanisms of PD patients is a promising approach, particularly for monitoring gait disorders and potentially informing therapeutic interventions, though it is not yet a well-established tool for early diagnosis or direct assessment of disease progression.

Neurogenic Orthostatic Hypotension in Parkinson Disease-A Narrative Review of Diagnosis and Management.

Neurogenic orthostatic hypotension (NOH) is a significant non-motor manifestation of Parkinson's disease (PD), that substantially affects patient disability and has a powerful impact on the quality of life of PD patients, while also contributing to increased healthcare costs. This narrative review aims to summarize key insights into the diagnosis and management of NOH in individuals with PD. For diagnosing NOH, a recently introduced and valuable metric is the ΔHr/ΔSBP index.

Twenty-Three-Year Mortality in Parkinson's Disease: A Population-Based Prospective Study (NEDICES).

Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders among older adults, yet its long-term impact on mortality within population-based cohorts remains insufficiently characterized. This study leverages data from the Neurological Disorders in Central Spain (NEDICES) cohort to provide a comprehensive 23-year mortality analysis in a Spanish population. In this prospective cohort study, 5278 individuals aged 65 years and older were evaluated across two waves: baseline (1994-1995) and follow-up (1997-1998).

The Systemic Immune-Inflammation Index and the Risk of Parkinson's Disease in the U.S.: A Cross-Sectional Study.

: Inflammation is reportedly related to Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the relationship between the systemic immune-inflammation index (SII) and PD remains unexplored. This study aimed to explore the potential relationship between the SII and PD.

The Crucial Role of the Blood-Brain Barrier in Neurodegenerative Diseases: Mechanisms of Disruption and Therapeutic Implications.

The blood-brain barrier (BBB) is a crucial structure that maintains brain homeostasis by regulating the entry of molecules and cells from the bloodstream into the central nervous system (CNS). Neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, as well as ischemic stroke, compromise the integrity of the BBB. This leads to increased permeability and the infiltration of harmful substances, thereby accelerating neurodegeneration.

Expanding Horizons in Parkinson's Disease: Towards Integrated Care and Comprehensive Research.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder worldwide and the fastest-growing neurological condition in terms of prevalence, disability, and mortality [...

Motor Assessment Timed Test (MATT): A New Timed Test to Assess Functional Mobility in Parkinson's Disease Patients.

: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that significantly impairs motor function, leading to mobility challenges and an increased risk of falls. Current assessment tools often inadequately measure the complexities of motor impairments associated with PD, highlighting the need for a reliable tool. This study introduces the Motor Assessment Timed Test (MATT), designed to assess functional mobility in PD patients.

Thiamine and Thiamine Pyrophosphate as Non-Competitive Inhibitors of Acetylcholinesterase-Experimental and Theoretical Investigations.

Vitamin B (thiamine) plays an important role in human metabolism. It is essential for the proper growth and development of the body and has a positive effect on the functioning of the digestive, cardiovascular, and nervous systems. Additionally, it stimulates the brain and improves the psycho-emotional state.

Impact of the Ketogenic Diet on Neurological Diseases: A Review.

Background: The ketogenic diet (KD), high in fat and low in carbohydrates, was introduced in the 1920s as a non-pharmacological treatment for refractory epilepsy. Although its mechanism of action is not fully understood, beneficial effects have been observed in neurological diseases such as epilepsy, Alzheimer's disease, and Parkinson's disease.

Objective: This review examines the impact of the ketogenic diet and its molecular and neuroglial effects as a complementary therapy for neurological diseases.

Associations of Voice Metrics with Postural Function in Parkinson's Disease.

Background: This study aimed to explore the potential associations between voice metrics of patients with PD and their motor symptoms.

Methods: Motor and vocal data including the Unified Parkinson's Disease Rating Scale part III (UPDRS-III), Harmonic-Noise Ratio (HNR), jitter, shimmer, and smoothed cepstral peak prominence (CPPS) were analyzed through exploratory correlations followed by univariate linear regression analyses. We employed these four voice metrics as independent variables and the total and sub-scores of the UPDRS-III as dependent variables.

Mitochondrial microRNAs: Key Drivers in Unraveling Neurodegenerative Diseases.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are a class of small non-coding RNAs (ncRNAs) crucial for regulating gene expression at the post-transcriptional level. Recent evidence has shown that miRNAs are also found in mitochondria, organelles that produce energy in the cell. These mitochondrial miRNAs, also known as mitomiRs, are essential for regulating mitochondrial function and metabolism.

Two- and Three-Dimensional In Vitro Models of Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Diseases: State-of-the-Art and Applications.

In vitro models play a pivotal role in advancing our understanding of neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease (PD and AD). Traditionally, 2D cell cultures have been instrumental in elucidating the cellular mechanisms underlying these diseases. Cultured cells derived from patients or animal models provide valuable insights into the pathological processes at the cellular level.

Identification of Downregulated Gene in Parkinson's Disease Through Integrated Transcriptomic Analysis and Validation.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuron degeneration and α-synuclein (α-syn) aggregation. Lipid metabolism dysfunction may contribute to PD progression. This study aims to identify lipid metabolism-related genes (LMGs) associated with PD using an integrative transcriptomic analysis of microarray and single-cell RNA sequencing (scRNA-seq) datasets from patients with PD and healthy controls.

Pharmacodynamic Mechanisms of Cicadae Periostracum in Parkinson's Disease: A Metabolomics-Based Study.

Cicadae Periostracum (CP) is a traditional Chinese animal-derived medicine with the potential to treat Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aims to explore the pharmacodynamic mechanisms of CP against PD-based on metabolomics technology and provide a theoretical basis for developing new anti-PD medicine. First, MPP-induced SH-SY5Y cells were used to evaluate the anti-PD activity of CP.

Associations Between Diabetes Mellitus and Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) and neurodegenerative diseases/disturbances are worldwide health problems. The most common chronic conditions diagnosed in persons 60 years and older are type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and cognitive impairment. It was found that diabetes mellitus is a major risk for cognitive decline, dementia, Parkinson's disease (PD), Alzheimer's disease (AD), Huntington's disease (HD), amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and other neurodegenerative disorders.

Satisfaction and Preferences for Infusion Therapies in Advanced Parkinson's Disease-Patient Perspective.

The rapid growth of the number of advanced Parkinson's disease (PD) patients has caused a significant increase in the use of device-aided therapies (DATs), including levodopa-carbidopa intestinal gel (LCIG) and continuous subcutaneous apomorphine infusion (CSAI). The objective of this study was to evaluate patients' satisfaction and the factors influencing preferences for CSAI and LCIG. The research focused on individuals diagnosed with advanced PD undergoing DAT at the Neurology Department of the University Hospital in Katowice.