Clinical Trials
Dapansutrile trial targets Parkinson’s inflammation pathway
DAPA-PD (NCT07157735) is recruiting 36 people with early Parkinson’s disease for a Phase 2, randomized, placebo-controlled trial of dapansutrile, an oral NLRP3 inflammasome inhibitor, as an add-on to dopaminergic therapy. The trial focuses first on safety and tolerability in patients with evidence of peripheral inflammation, which matters because inflammation-targeted treatment is a different approach from standard symptom control. *
clinicaltrials.govBuntanetap safety study opens to DBS patients
NCT07284784 is a recruiting Phase 2/3, 36-month open-label study of buntanetap/posiphen 30 mg daily in up to 500 people with Parkinson’s disease. It includes people from prior buntanetap trials and a cohort receiving deep brain stimulation, so the main value for patients and caregivers is long-term safety information rather than a blinded efficacy answer. *
clinicaltrials.govDopaCell transplant safety trial begins recruiting
NCT07572071 is a recruiting Phase 1 trial testing bilateral striatal transplantation of human embryonic stem cell-derived dopaminergic progenitor cells, called DopaCell, in six people with moderately severe Parkinson’s disease. This is an early surgical safety and feasibility study with immunosuppression and long follow-up, so it should be viewed as experimental rather than evidence of clinical benefit. *
clinicaltrials.gov
Breakthrough Treatments
Adaptive DBS reduced falls in pilot
A Nature Medicine randomized crossover feasibility trial tested gait-synchronized adaptive deep brain stimulation in five people with Parkinson's disease. Personalized brain-signal triggers were feasible in all participants, and in the multi-day blinded phase adaptive DBS maintained motor control while reducing falls versus continuous DBS, supporting a larger efficacy trial. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPrasinezumab shows signal despite missed endpoint
The Lancet published PADOVA, a phase 2b trial of intravenous prasinezumab in 586 people with early Parkinson's disease on stable symptomatic therapy. The study did not meet its primary endpoint, but the motor-progression hazard ratio favored prasinezumab and exploratory findings support continued testing in the phase 3 PARAISO trial. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govNoninvasive ultrasound improved hand dexterity in trial
A double-blind, sham-controlled crossover trial in Movement Disorders tested six sessions of transcranial pulse stimulation targeting the sensorimotor network in 30 people with mild Parkinson's disease. Manual dexterity improved more after active stimulation than sham at both post-treatment and one-month follow-up, with only mild transient adverse events reported. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Lifestyle Interventions
Mindfulness training may aid thinking and movement
A single-blind randomized trial of 53 people with Parkinson’s disease and mild cognitive impairment tested 4 weeks of mindfulness plus cognitive-motor dual-task training against dual-task training alone or aerobic training. The combined program showed greater improvements in cognition, motor symptoms, depression, sleep quality, quality of life, and postural stability, but the study was small and short. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govPrebiotic combination eased Parkinson’s constipation symptoms
A double-blind randomized trial assigned 72 people with Parkinson’s disease to short-chain fatty acids, the prebiotic 2-fucosyllactose, or both for 6 months. The prebiotic and especially the combination improved constipation severity, stool consistency, defecation frequency, and constipation-related quality of life; limitations include no non-supplement control arm and unknown long-term effects. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govSwallowing exercises improved Parkinson’s dysphagia signs
A randomized pilot trial of 26 people with Parkinson’s disease compared 4 weeks of chin tuck against resistance exercises with a chin-down swallowing maneuver program. The exercise group improved more on dysphagia signs, tongue pressure, and self-reported swallowing impact, though peak cough flow did not change and the study was small and brief. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
Emerging Research
Eye microtremor test may support screening
A PLOS Digital Health pilot study used a handheld, non-invasive device to measure tiny eye tremors in 33 people with Parkinson's disease and 31 age-matched controls. Measurements were reliable and lower in Parkinson's participants, suggesting this could become a supporting screening or diagnostic marker if larger studies confirm it. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govBlood markers may track disease progression
A Neurobiology of Disease study measured ferroptosis-related blood markers in 598 samples from people with advanced Parkinson's disease in the PREDISTIM cohort. Higher 4-HNE levels were associated with motor severity and one-year motor change, pointing to a possible way to group patients for future trials after validation. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.govGBA1 study links lysosomes and mitochondria
Using patient-derived fibroblasts and iPSC dopamine neurons from GBA1-associated Parkinson's, researchers found impaired lysosomal acidification, mitophagy, and mitochondrial energy function. Rapamycin and lysosome-targeted acidic nanoparticles improved these cell measures, pointing to a mechanism and treatment-development target for a genetic Parkinson's subtype. *
pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov
This report is for informational purposes only. The content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.