JPD Blog

6 December 2023

Scientists Plead to Be Heard in Pesticide Debate: Exposure Linked to Risk of Developing Parkinson´s Disease Via Changes in Gut Microbiome

Amsterdam, the Netherlands – While the European Union has just renewed the approval of the use of herbicide glyphosate for another ten years, scientists issue a call to action to reduce or replace the use of agrochemicals.

The International Linked Clinical Trials Initiative: A Program of Hope for Parkinson’s Disease

Cure Parkinson's (CP) started the international Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT) initiative to repurpose drugs for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). Combining priorities with the Van Andel Institute (VAI), they hold an annual two-day meeting to present, examine, discuss, and prioritize suitable compounds for streamlining into clinical trials specifically for slowing down/stopping/reversing the progression of PD. I was an invited Parkinson’s patient advocate to the iLCT meeting held at the Van Andel Institute (Grand Rapids, MI, USA) last September 26-27, 2022. Herein is a synopsis of the iLCT program and meeting.

Mime Over Mind - a therapeutic tool to help manage Parkinson’s

I was living the dream. I’d retired as head of art from a busy downtown Toronto high school, my husband and I had moved to a smaller town, and our children were ‘launched’. We were traveling a lot, and I regularly visited my ‘happy place’ - painting. Except something was wrong with my dominant hand.

The Importance of the World Parkinson Congress for People with Parkinson’s

Attending the World Parkinson Congress for the first time was an awe-inspiring and transformative experience, bringing together a global community of people with Parkinson's disease, sparking empowerment and advocacy among attendees.

21 June 2023

Journal of Parkinson's Disease (JPD) Included in the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ)

Amsterdam, The Netherlands - Editors-in-Chief Bas Bloem, MD, PhD, and Lorraine Kalia, MD, PhD, proudly announce Journal of Parkinson's Disease (JPD) has been accepted into the Directory of Open Access Journals (DOAJ). Being included in the DOAJ is a significant milestone as it means that JPD meets the rigorous standards of the DOAJ's evaluation process, which assesses the quality, openness, and transparency of open access journals.

23 March 2023

Adding Hope to the Therapeutic Mix Can Empower Persons with Parkinson's Disease

Hopamine

Healthcare professionals recommend adding “hopamine” as a prerequisite for personalized medicine. Based on the personal experiences of Marina Noordegraaf, a commentary published in the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, proposes that adding “hopamine” to the therapeutic mix can contribute to the empowerment of persons with Parkinson's disease.

Bedside Assessment of Autonomic Dysfunction in Multiple System Atrophy

January 17, 2023 - Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, rapidly progressive neurodegenerative disorder of the adulthood, characterized by autonomic failure, parkinsonian and cerebellar features in various combinations. Distinguishing MSA from common clinical look-alikes such as Parkinson´s disease, other atypical parkinsonian disorders or alternative causes of sporadic adult-onset cerebellar ataxia may be difficult, especially at early disease stages.

Last comment on by Bonnie Chismar,

A Practical Guide to the Evaluation of Compensation Strategies for Gait Impairment in Parkinson’s Disease

January 17, 2023 - The application of compensation strategies is an important element of gait rehabilitation in persons with Parkinson’s disease. While the efficacy of these strategies is generally very high, a tailored, personalized approach is necessary to determine the optimal strategies for every patient.

Last comment on by Bonnie Chismar,

Troubleshooting Gait Problems in Parkinson’s Disease Patients with Subthalamic Nucleus Deep Brain Stimulation

January 17, 2022 - Subthalamic nucleus deep brain stimulation (STN DBS) is an established therapy for a subset of patients with Parkinson’s disease, and the adjustment of DBS parameters is typically guided by the patients’ rigidity and tremor.

Last comment on by Bonnie Chismar,

16 December 2022

Journal of Parkinson’s Disease Awards 2022 Parkinson Prize

The Journal of Parkinson’s Disease and its publisher IOS Press are proud to announce the two articles that have won the 2022 Parkinson Prize. The authors of these articles are being recognized for their outstanding contributions to the advancement of Parkinson’s disease (PD) research. Recipients of the award are co-authors Thomas G. Beach, MD, PhD, FRCPC, Banner Sun Health Research Institute, and Charles H. Adler, MD, PhD, FAAN, Mayo Clinic Arizona (basic research article), and Simon Stott, PhD, Cure Parkinson’s (clinical research article).

1 December 2022

Growing Evidence for the Role of the Immune System in Parkinson’s Disease

Amsterdam, NL – In this special supplement to the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, “The Immune System in Parkinson’s Disease,” experts highlight the latest research breakthroughs on the links between immune activation and neuroinflammation and Parkinson’s disease (PD) and discuss the challenges and novel therapeutic strategies targeting the immune system with the hope of reducing or reversing neurodegeneration.

18 October 2022

Journal of Parkinson’s Disease Transitioning to Gold Open Access in 2023

Amsterdam, October 20, 2022 – The Journal of Parkinson’s Disease (JPD), published by IOS Press, is pleased to announce that beginning in January 2023, JPD will transition to a Gold Open Access publication. This means that all articles published after that date will be immediately and permanently freely available online for readers to view, download, share, and reuse, and will enable authors to comply more easily with funder and institutional mandates.

17 June 2022

NWO Stevin Prize for Expert on Parkinson’s Disease Bas Bloem

Bas Bloem

Neurologist Bas Bloem, MD, PhD, FRCPE of Radboud University Medical Center receives this year’s Stevin Prize of the Dutch Research Council (NWO). The Stevin Award is the highest distinction in science for a researcher in the Netherlands who has achieved particular success in the area of knowledge utilization for society. Prof. Bloem is the recipient of this award for the social impact of his research into this common and debilitating disorder.

20 May 2022

Journal of Parkinson’s Disease Welcomes New Co-Editor-in-Chief Lorraine V. Kalia, MD, PhD, FRCPC

Lorraine Kalia

The Journal of Parkinson’s Disease is pleased to announce the appointment of new co-Editor-in-Chief, Lorraine V. Kalia, MD, PhD, FRCPC. Dr. Kalia joins co-Editor-in-Chief Bas Bloem, MD, PhD, FRCPE, and an eminent international editorial board, who are dedicated to the continuing success of the world’s leading journal in Parkinson’s research.

10 May 2022

Involving Patients with Parkinson’s Disease in Research Benefits Everyone

JPD news

Although there is a growing trend to involve patients in clinical research, specific guiding principles for engaging individuals with Parkinson’s disease have not been established. The authors of this Call to Action emphasize the value of incorporating patient perspectives in clinical Parkinson’s disease studies and recommend how to include patient researchers effectively.

14 April 2022

Patrik Brundin Steps Down as JPD Co-Editor-in-Chief

Patrik Brundin

We share the news that Patrik Brundin, MD, PhD has decided to step down as co-Editor-in-Chief (EIC), of the Journal of Parkinson’s Disease, with immediate effect, following his acceptance of a new position at Roche Pharmaceutical Research and Early Development. As a consequence of his moving away from academia, he now steps down from the journal to prevent any form of conflict of interests.

15 March 2022

Skin Biopsy Can Help Identify Patients with Parkinson’s Disease

The diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease (PD) is currently based on consensus clinical criteria. A novel study in JPD has found that the presence of neuronal deposits of the biomarker phosphorylated alpha-synuclein in the brain and the skin of patients with PD distinguishes them from individuals with symptoms of parkinsonism due to the accumulation of another protein, tau.

30 September 2021

Promoting Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Parkinson’s Research and Care

Current knowledge about Parkinson’s disease (PD) does not reflect the diversity of people with the disease, according to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF). In a position paper published in JPD, MJFF research staff define four major areas of action to reduce health disparities and advance treatments for everyone with PD. It highlights steps the Foundation is taking in these areas, including a new program launched earlier this year.

23 September 2021

Pipeline of Cell and Gene Therapies Holds Promise for Repairing the Parkinsonian Brain

grey scale visual of jigsaw pieces joining to form the head and brain

After several decades of pre-clinical development, cell- and gene-based therapies for Parkinson’s disease (PD) are now actively being explored. In this JPD special issue on “Repairing the Parkinsonian Brain,” experts highlight some of the current strategies being pursued to restore lost function and replace what is lost in the PD brain, with special emphasis on the challenges associated with translating advanced therapeutic approaches into pioneering clinical trials.

An Unbeatable Enemy

This blog post covers my approach to dealing with my symptoms. If I cannot run, I will walk; if I cannot walk, I will crawl; and if I cannot crawl, I will find someone to carry me. PD may be an unbeatable enemy (for now), but as long as I keep moving, it cannot win. Read my story here.

Last comment on by Bonnie Chismar,

3 February 2021

COVID-19 Vaccination for Patients with Parkinson’s Disease Recommended

Patients with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and healthcare professionals caring for them have expressed concerns about the COVID-19 vaccine’s efficacy and safety in the specific context of PD and its symptomatic treatment. In a commentary just published in JPD, a set of experts addresses these concerns from an evidence-based perspective. Their conclusion is that COVID-19 vaccination with approved vaccines should be recommended to persons with PD, unless there is a specific contraindication.

Pages