In 2024, the Parkinson’s Foundation expanded its global genetics study, PD GENEration: Mapping the Future of Parkinson’s Disease, both geographically and biologically. The study team’s recruitment efforts led to an increase in the diversity of participants. Changes to sample collection and genetic sequencing allowed for the inclusion of more than 30 new genetic markers of interest. The results from three of these scope-expanding initiatives were presented as posters at international Parkinson’s and medical conferences. Below we highlight each poster.  

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1. Bringing PD Genetic Testing to Latin America with LARGE-PD 

For large-scale studies that provide genetic sequencing and counseling like PD GENEration, participant diversity is essential. Having genetic data from people across the world creates a strong foundation for impactful research breakthroughs. With that in mind, the Parkinson’s Foundation partnered with the Latin America Research consortium on the Genetics of Parkinson’s Disease (LARGE-PD) to expand the PD GENEration study to new countries. In just a few months, we have provided valuable genetic testing and counseling to new, underserved populations, broadening our understanding of the disease.  Six LARGE-PD sites offer the PD GENEration study today. The six selected sites are in Colombia, Chile, Peru, Mexico, El Salvador and the Dominican Republic, supporting a wide range of Latin American communities. Every PD GENEratrion site offers high-quality testing and genetic counseling. 

These sites enrolled 446 new participants and trained 16 clinicians to return genetic testing results — maintaining PD GENEration's momentum into the new year. This LARGE-PD collaboration and these six new Latin American sites support PD GENEration’s goals of accelerating clinical trials in PD, improving PD care and research and empowering people with PD and their care teams. 

2. Building Trusted Connections with the Hawaii PD Community 

PD GENEration recruitment in Hawaiʻi began in 2022, but participation was limited to at-home testing with only a few people signing up each month. With help from the Hawaiʻi Parkinson Association (HPA), a local partner since 2018, the Parkinson’s Foundation worked with The Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu as Hawaii’s first PD GENEration site in 2023, which is also a Parkinson’s Foundation Comprehensive Care Center. This location immediately accelerated participation with an increased average of nearly 20 new people joining the study every month.  

As sign-ups increased, we learned new insights into the Hawaii PD community. In particular their historical mistrust of the medical field and hesitance toward sharing personal health information due to western colonization. Leading with empathy and understanding of this historical trauma, the PD GENEration outreach team worked closely with local organizers to drive an outreach campaign in hopes of breaking down barriers to inspire joining PD GENEration.  

In October 2024, PD GENEration team members met with Rock Steady Boxing members at the HPA Resource Center, two pillars of the Honolulu PD community. These introductions provided information about the PD GENEration study, including its history, rationale and impact, as well invitations to the upcoming Parkinson’s Foundation Research and Care Event. At this event, attendees learned about what's new in research, how research shapes treatments, and care tips for managing PD symptoms. 

These outreach efforts helped: 

• 30 new people with PD join PD GENEration, over half of whom were from diverse (non-white) populations and 90% had never participated in PD research before.  

• This amounted to a nearly 13% jump in total Hawaii resident enrollment.  

As this momentum continues, PD GENEration and the entire PD research field will gain valuable genetic information from this unique community while the Hawaii participants gain key insights into their diagnoses and personal health. 

3. Diving Deeper into Genetic Testing with the Tasso+ Device 

Accessibility is key for the PD GENEration study. The ability for people with PD to participate either in person at a medical or through an at-home mail-in test has ensured that anyone interested can participate. This accessibility was top-of-mind when the study entered its next phase in March 2024, expanding its genetic testing panel from the nine major PD-related genetic mutations to 40 targets, adding 21 genes with a potential PD connection.  

Participants can now request testing for 10 CDC Tier 1 genes related to other diseases like breast cancer, ovarian cancer, Lynch syndrome, and familial hypercholesterolemia (high cholesterol).

To investigate this wider range of genes in a single test, the format would have to change. While the amount of quality DNA obtained from a cheek swab is sufficient when testing for just a few PD gene mutations, a blood sample is needed for collecting enough testable DNA for the new gene panel. This change is simple for study sites, but the PD GENEration team worked to find a new way to offer at-home testing for the new panel.  

In February 2024, PD GENEration partnered with the company Tasso to produce the study's new blood sample collection kit, called Tasso+. Learn more in this video. In just a few months, the new Tasso+ kit was fully integrated into at-home testing. As of November 2024, more than 1,000 new PD GENEration participants have enrolled using the Tasso+ device with a 97.1% kit success rate. 

With the Tasso+ kit, PD GENEration can now collect and provide even more valuable genetic information to PD researchers, potentially unlocking more clues behind disease progression that can lead to improvements in treatment and care for people with Parkinson’s everywhere. 

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Learn more about PD GENEration and enroll today.

Immune cells are vital to protect our bodies from infection and disease. But what happens as they become less effective with age? 

Rebecca Wallings, PhD, is leveraging her Parkinson’s Foundation Launch Award to investigate how aging impairs a type of immune cell outside the brain — and how this impairment impacts the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Dr. Wallings is focused on the peripheral immune system (immune cells outside the brain), which researchers suspect plays a part in Parkinson’s.  

“My research is focused on how an aging immune system contributes to Parkinson’s,” said Dr. Wallings. “As you age, your immune system ages with you. Your immune cells can become exhausted, not working as well as they used to. They are very slow, sluggish and not able to resolve inflammation like they used to. We think it is that accumulation of exhausted immune cells that are potentially driving degeneration in the brain.” 

Parkinson’s research has established that inflammation plays a part in PD. However, it has only been in the last 10 years or so that researchers have started to determine that inflammation is not just a byproduct of Parkinson’s, but a contributor to the disease. 

“For the longest time the field thought that inflammation in Parkinson’s was something that was rampant, that there was too much of it,” Dr. Wallings said. “It was something that needed to be decreased to alleviate symptoms. But my research has shown that the complete opposite might be happening. Instead of dampening an already suppressed immune system, we should try to rejuvenate it to make it work more efficiently.” 

In her research, Dr. Wallings aims to deal with the underlying mechanism that makes immune cells exhausted — mitochondrial dysfunction. Her data suggests that people with certain genetic mutations that cause Parkinson’s have mitochondria that do not work as efficiently as their immune cells age, which causes the cells’ exhaustion.  

In her lab, she is testing if reinforcing or repairing these immune cell mitochondria could have potential to serve as a future preventative treatment option for PD. 

By receiving the Launch Award, Dr. Wallings can take her research further and establish independence in the field. She hopes to run her own lab focused on her immune cells study and their role in PD and feels that this award will greatly assist her transition. 

“My research is at the forefront of a potential paradigm shift in the neurodegeneration field and may change the way researchers think about the role of the immune system in PD,” Dr. Wallings said. “What the Parkinson’s Foundation has done with this award is show me that they are willing to invest in me, and they believe in the potential impact my research may have on the field and, most importantly, on patients’ lives.”  

Meet more Parkinson’s researchers! Explore our My PD Stories featuring PD researchers. 

Update: February 21, 2025

This February, a new study published in the medical journal The Lancet has cast substantial doubt on the potential effectiveness of the diabetes drug class GLP-1 receptor agonists on treating Parkinson’s disease (PD).

A phase 3 clinical trial evaluated the GLP-1 receptor agonist called Exenatide. The study,  consisting of 194 participants followed over two years, found that daily use of Exenatide did not provide any significant improvement for Parkinson’s symptoms compared to the placebo. This lack of improvement was consistent across age groups, sexes and PD stages. The researchers also performed pre- and post-study CT brain scans on select participants, finding that Exenatide did not impact dopamine activity in the PD-relevant regions of the brain.

These results suggest that the current GLP-1 receptor agonists medications are not effective as Parkinson’s disease-modifying treatments. As scientists learn more about the GLP-1 biological pathway and how it affects dopaminergic neuron health, there will likely be future development and trials of new GLP-1 drugs specifically designed for Parkinson’s.

January Article

Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder where dopamine-producing cells in the brain slowly break down over time. This loss of dopamine leads to a variety of movement symptoms, including tremors, stiffness, slow movement and difficulty with balance. While current treatments can help manage many PD symptoms, they do not address what causes the disease and therefore cannot prevent its progression.  

Emerging research suggests a potential link between the brain's decreased sensitivity to the hormone insulin and the progression of Parkinson's. This observation has prompted researchers to investigate whether anti-diabetic medications that help manage insulin levels could potentially slow the progression of Parkinson's. 

Trending drugs Ozempic and Wegovy belong to a class of diabetes medications called GLP-1 receptor agonists, which along with certain other diabetes medications have shown potential in reducing the risk of developing Parkinson’s in people with diabetes. These drugs mimic the action of a natural hormone that regulates blood sugar levels. 

However, it is not known whether GLP-1 receptor agonists drugs may benefit people with Parkinson’s who don’t have diabetes. 

A recent clinical trial, published in the New England Journal of Medicine, tested whether a GLP-1 agonist called lixisenatide could be a new treatment approach for people in the early stages of Parkinson's. The study showed that lixisenatide, which was approved by the FDA to help diabetics control blood sugar in 2016, helped movement symptoms in people with PD and may slow the progression of Parkinson’s.  

As part of this study, a mouse model of Parkinson's demonstrated that lixisenatide improved movement issues and preserved brain cells, suggesting GLP-1 agonists may treat the underlying causes of PD.  

Additionally, lixisenatide is not the only GLP-1 receptor agonist with potential therapeutic applications for Parkinson's — at least six other similar medications are currently being evaluated as a potential PD treatment. However, compared with liraglutide and semaglutide (such as Wegovy), lixisenatide appears to be more effective in crossing the blood brain barrier. 

Study Results

The new study — a phase 2 clinical trial — enrolled 156 people with Parkinson’s, who were randomly assigned to receive lixisenatide or a placebo. The participants were diagnosed with Parkinson’s within the prior three years and were taking dopaminergic medications, such as levodopa, and continued to do so through the trial. For each participant, researchers assessed symptoms before treatment and after 12 months with daily injection of either placebo or lixisenatide. 

After 12 months of treatment, people who received lixisenatide showed better results with their movement symptoms compared to those who received a placebo. While the movement symptoms of the lixisenatide group did not change compared to the start of the trial, the placebo group experienced worsening of their symptoms.  

After 12 months of taking lixisenatide or a placebo, participants underwent two months without any treatment, with symptoms reassessed. The lixisenatide group showed better movement symptoms compared to the control group after two months, suggesting that lixisenatide may have a positive impact on disease progression.  

Of note, those who received lixisenatide had more gastrointestinal side effects — 46% of participants on lixisenatide had nausea and 13% experienced vomiting. About a third of participants (28 people) receiving lixisenatide opted for a lower dose during the study due to side effects. 

Highlights 

• The study enrolled 156 people with Parkinson’s, who were randomly assigned to receive either a once daily injection of lixisenatide (a GLP-1 agonist) or a placebo. 

• After a year of treatment, people who received lixisenatide showed better outcomes in their movement symptoms compared to those who received a placebo. 

• Lixisenatide caused many participants to have gastrointestinal side effects — 46% of participants had nausea and 13% experienced vomiting. 

What does this mean for GLP-1 drugs and Parkinson’s? 

This study may mean that certain GLP-1 agonists could be beneficial in reducing certain Parkinson’s symptoms. These promising results will inspire more research on the long-term impacts of lixisenatide on PD progression.  

This study had a small sample size and only assessed the drug in those who were newly diagnosed (diagnosed within three years). Larger studies, with significantly more participants living with wider ranges of PD stages, are needed before we can make the connection between GLP-1 agonists and symptom management or disease progression.  

Lastly, there are many GLP-1 agonists currently being researched for PD treatment, and other similar drugs have shown less promising results compared to lixisenatide. More research is needed to understand the differences between various GLP-1 agonists on PD symptoms.  

What do these findings mean to the people with PD right now? 

Currently, GLP-1 agonists are only approved for treating diabetes and obesity. People with Parkinson’s who also have diabetes and obesity should talk to their doctor before starting a GLP-1 agonist. There is currently insufficient evidence to support the use of GLP-1 agonists like lixisenatide as a treatment for people with Parkinson’s who do not have diabetes or obesity.  

Additionally, the weight loss associated with GLP-1 agonists may be a problem for the many people with Parkinson’s who experience unintended weight loss through the course of the disease.  

Of note, lixisenatide is no longer available in the U.S.  

Learn More

The Parkinson’s Foundation believes in empowering the Parkinson’s community through education. Learn more about PD and the topics in this article through our below resources, or by calling our free Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636) for answers to your Parkinson’s questions. 

• Study Examines Connection Between Diabetes Medication and Parkinson's  

• Related Conditions 

• Neuro Talk: Parkinson’s Disease Progression 

Over the past few years, Parkinson's disease (PD) research has undergone a dramatic transformation. Scientists are moving beyond the traditional focus on the brain alone and adopting a whole systems approach to understanding the disease. Today, research is looking at the interconnected roles of the brain, gut, inflammation, genetics and environmental factors in the development and progression of PD.  

Advancements in artificial intelligence (AI) are also playing a key role, helping researchers analyze vast amounts of data to uncover new insights and potential therapies. 

In this Neuro Talk update, join James Beck, PhD, Chief Scientific Officer at the Parkinson's Foundation, as he discusses this evolution in Parkinson’s research and what this could mean for the future of those living with PD.

Nami Shah, MD, is passionate about improving in-hospital and outpatient care for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). As a Parkinson’s Foundation Wesley G. McCain Movement Disorders Fellow at the University of Rochester Medical Center, a Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, she is examining how electronic medical record alerts can reduce medication errors during hospital stays.  

Dr. Shah is also part of a study evaluating how AI-technology can identify Parkinson’s symptoms and eventually aid in the diagnosis of PD. And, she is a sub-investigator for a qualitative interview study on freezing of gait. 

We spoke to Dr. Shah about her exciting work in the PD field, and how working with the Parkinson’s community inspires her. 

"I'm so grateful to have the support of the Parkinson's Foundation. It's critical to have a foundation like this invested in supporting Parkinson's research and in improving care."

- Nami Shah, MD

What led you to Parkinson’s research?

Toward the end of my neurology training, I spent a couple weeks rotating through the movement disorders clinic at the University of Rochester, and that really solidified my decision to not only go into movement disorders and work with patients with Parkinson’s, but to also do research in that area. It was a humbling experience to give a diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease, and to hear patient stories about dealing with the disease each day and during hospitalizations.  

Sometimes patients told me stories about their great care experiences, and the not great experiences too. These stories are what increased my interest in doing research that primarily focuses on trying to improve care for patients with Parkinson’s in the hospital setting and improving some of the tools used in research, so they better reflect what is important to patients and their actual experience with the disease. 

How has this fellowship impacted your career?

It’s been critical to my training. When I completed my neurology residency, I received some basic training in how to take care of patients with Parkinson’s and identify that they have the disease, but this fellowship has really made me appreciate the nuances of Parkinson’s. It has given me confidence in my ability to diagnose Parkinson’s and differentiate it from related disorders.  

How are you helping reduce medication errors in hospital settings for people living with Parkinson’s?

I've been working on this project for over a year now, and we're almost done analyzing results. A group of researchers, before my time, introduced a best practice advisory —an electronic medical alert that is triggered when patients carry a diagnosis of Parkinson's. So, if someone with Parkinson’s is admitted to the hospital and a provider tries to order a contraindicated medication, the alert tells the provider to think about the risk versus benefit of ordering that medication. My part in the project was to look at how this warning system impacted hospital stays and affected the rate of complications.  

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The initial analysis shows that it really does have an impact. Not only did the warning system drastically reduce the number of orders of that kind, but it also showed increases in length of stay for patients when they received these contraindicated medications. I think it's promising because it's such a simple intervention, but it can really make a difference for patients with Parkinson’s during hospital stays.  

I'm also working on designing an order set that makes it easier to identify and order time-sensitive medications for patients with Parkinson’s in the hospital. The hope is to make this process easier for providers, especially those who are not as familiar with Parkinson's, and to decrease the risk of increased rigidity, falls, and swallowing difficulties that patients can experience due to delays in administration of these medications. 

Can you explain your research on how AI can help identify symptoms and diagnose PD?

This is still in the early stages, but I think it is exciting to involve AI in Parkinson’s diagnosis. The study I am involved in is having us code patient videos to identify important symptoms that lead to a Parkinson’s diagnosis. The goal is to use this information to train AI technology so it can help with diagnosis and maybe use it as an alerting technique for providers who may not be as familiar with Parkinson’s.  

Are you working on any other Parkinson’s research?

I am serving as a sub-investigator for a qualitative interview study that utilizes novel symptom mapping techniques to evaluate meaningfulness of a novel Freezing of Gait Patient Reported Outcome Assessment, developed by an international consortium of specialists.  

This study is looking at using a symptom mapping technique to illuminate symptoms of importance and interest to patients with Parkinson’s, particularly how they experience freezing of gait. Once we create the map of symptoms, we’re using that to assess whether a specific patient-related outcome measure that has been created in this group is appropriate, whether it is identifying the right symptoms for freezing of gait and whether it accurately reflects the patient experience. The goal is to determine if this tool is good, and if it is good, use it in future research studies to assess therapies that might be curative. 

What gives you the greatest hope regarding your Parkinson’s-related work?

The people with Parkinson’s that I work with in the clinic and in my research projects inspire me. Not only are they incredibly brave when dealing with the daily challenges that Parkinson’s brings, they are also so generous with their time and willingness to help in research that would benefit others in the future. If they weren’t so kind or willing to participate, Parkinson’s care would not have advanced as much as it has. 

Find a movement disorders specialist at Parkinson.org/Search or call the Parkinson's Foundation Helpline at 1.800.4PD.INFO (1-800-473-4636). 

Every day, researchers are working hard to identify the mechanisms in the brain that are responsible for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and its symptoms. In 2024, scientists gathered even more information to help us solve this disease. 

Our Science News article series highlight exciting Parkinson’s studies and how they impact those living with this disease. Explore our top Science News articles of 2024 below: 

1. A Skin Test Could Detect Parkinson’s and Related Diseases 

When diagnosing Parkinson’s doctors focus on symptoms since there is no single test that can diagnose Parkinson’s. This can result in a delay of diagnosis as early symptoms are often hard to distinguish as PD. This study investigated whether a skin test could help diagnose Parkinson’s earlier.  

In Parkinson’s, the protein alpha-synuclein clumps in the brain, which is also referred to as phosphorylated alpha-synuclein (P-SYN). This study found that P-SYN could also be detected in the nerve cells in the skin. The amount of P-SYN in the skin could also be connected with the severity of a person’s symptoms. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE 

2. A Protein that Protects Against Brain Cell Degeneration Associated with PD 

In Parkinson’s, the dysfunction of the mitochondria is one of the causes of the death of neurons in the brains. This study was the first to discover a receptor called GUCY2C, which could lead to a potential new way to fight dopamine loss. 

Researchers found that the loss of GUCY2C led to dysfunction of mitochondria and cell loss in the part of the brain affected by PD. GUCY2C was found as a defense to protect dopamine neurons in the brain. This new discovery could lead researchers to explore the possibility of stimulating GUCY2C as a treatment for PD. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE 

3. Non-invasive Focused Ultrasound Helps Alleviate PD Symptoms 

Movement symptoms associated with Parkinson’s often impact quality of life. A study found that the non-invasive treatment option called a focused ultrasound helps relieve tremors, improve mobility and other movement symptoms related to PD. 

In this study, the focused ultrasound treatment targeted the part of the brain that controls movement. Nearly 70% of participants in the treatment group responded successfully to treatment after three months of follow-up. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE 

4. Plastic Waste Contaminants Could Promote Parkinson’s 

Plastic waste is a rising problem, especially as it breaks down into tiny pieces. This study observed that these tiny pieces may be an environmental risk factor for developing Parkinson’s. 

Parkinson’s is diagnosed when the protein alpha-synuclein starts to accumulate in neurons in the brain. Through various experiments, this study found that polystyrene nanoparticles can interact with alpha-synuclein and promote its clumping formations — meaning plastic waste may be contributing to Parkinson’s as an environmental factor. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE    

5. New Study Further Personalizes Deep Brain Stimulation 

Deep brain stimulation (DBS) is a surgical therapy used to treat certain aspects of Parkinson’s. PD symptoms vary throughout the day, which can make DBS ineffective whether it's too much or too little. 

This study used a clinical trial enrolled four participants to test a surgical treatment called adaptive DBS that detects and responds to brain activity to provide individualized and customized stimulation to help with Parkinson’s symptoms.  

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6. New Cell Types Identified in Parkinson’s 

A hallmark of Parkinson's is the death of brain cells called dopaminergic neurons in a part of the brain called the substantia nigra. For people with Parkinson’s, these neurons stop producing dopamine, which helps control the body's movements and moods. However, it’s not clear if other types of cells are also affected. 

This study identified a new type of neuron associated with Parkinson’s. By looking at which genes were turned on and off in hundreds of thousands of different cells in the substantia nigra, the researchers developed an “atlas of gene expression.” This research may help us better understand Parkinson’s, and possibly help guide the development of new treatments. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE 

7. Screening for Depression Can Improve Parkinson’s Care 

Even though up to 50% of people with Parkinson’s experience some form of depression, when it comes to PD mental health care, symptoms like depression are often overlooked. This study showed that introducing a five-minute questionnaire — the 15-question Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS-15) — to movement disorder clinics can improve the rate of depression screening and follow-up care for people with Parkinson’s. 

The screening is a helpful way to detect in depression in people with Parkinson’s, which can help in finding suitable treatment earlier. 

READ THE FULL ARTICLE 

8. New Continuous Pump Medication for PD Completes Trials in Europe

PRODUODOPA (available in Europe), also known as VYALEV (approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration on October 17, 2024), is a new Parkinson’s drug delivered continuously via a pump, like insulin pumps used for people with diabetes. Clinical trials show that it can be an effective option for those whose medications are wearing off or who may have dyskinesia. 

This study covers the recent findings of the clinical trials completed in Europe evaluating the safety and effectiveness of this new formulation of levodopa (foslevodopa/foscarbidopa). 

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Ready to participate in Parkinson’s research?  Visit our Join A Study page to learn more.