NTU Singapore scientists have identified a fat-producing enzyme (GPAT) in brain cells that amplifies the damage caused by α-synuclein, the protein linked to Parkinson's disease. GPAT delivers a "double hit" — impairing cells' energy-producing machinery while increasing the protein's toxicity. Reducing GPAT activity led to less brain cell damage in lab models. The findings point to a potential new treatment target for a disease that currently has no cure.

A UAB research team defines the criteria these immunotherapies must meet to advance both conceptually and in trials, which are still at a very preliminary stage

They should have high selective precision and be programmable, sustained over time, and controllable throughout the pathologies. Macrophages, microglia and regulatory T cells would be appropriate effector cells for these treatments

Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) has emerged as a critical player in both neurological and peripheral diseases. In a comprehensive review, researchers from Sichuan University examine the diverse cellular functions of LRRK2, its pathogenic mechanisms in Parkinson's disease and other disorders, and recent advances in LRRK2-targeted therapies. The review highlights how LRRK2 mutations disrupt intracellular signaling, mitochondrial function, and lysosomal homeostasis, while also exploring the therapeutic potential of LRRK2 kinase inhibitors currently under clinical development.

A St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital–led collaboration created the first large-scale neurodegenerative disease proteome map, a resource for developing new diagnosis tools and treatments.

A Finnish clinical imaging study shows that rest tremor in Parkinson’s disease is not explained by greater dopamine loss. In contrast, tremor appears to be associated with relatively better-preserved dopamine function.