Continue to follow our Parkinson’s research content on the Parkinson’s UK website. Where can I find the Parkinson’s UK Research blog? As of 31 January 2024 we will be writing and posting regular research blogs on the Parkinson’s UK website. We will no longer be creating new content on our Medium account. Visit the Research blog on the Parkinson’s UK website. What is the Parkinson’s UK Research blog? Our blog is a place where the Research Communications team at Parkinson’s UK write and share regular articles. The blog helps to explain research, share progress towards be ..read more

How could a simple test for Parkinson’s, like a blood test or a skin swab, revolutionise research and care? Photo by Testalize.me on Unsplash Medical tests are a vital part of modern medicine. They help us understand what’s going on inside our bodies and then to identify and test the right approaches to fix the underlying problems. Here are some examples: Blood tests to check cholesterol levels Biopsies to look for signs of cancer X-rays to find broken bones And many, many others What all these medical tests have in common is that they can detect a biological change ..read more

Stem cells hold promise for slowing, or even reversing, the progression of Parkinson’s. For more than a decade, researchers have worked to harness the potential of stem cells to treat Parkinson’s. In this blog, we will take a look at the research, see how far we’ve come and look to the future. Around 153,000 people live with Parkinson’s in the UK. Whilst the underlying cause of Parkinson’s is unknown, it is widely understood that Parkinson’s results from a lack of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine is a chemical that is produced by cells in an area of the brain called the substantia nigra ..read more

2023 has been a year of exciting advances in Parkinson’s research. We reflect on some of the highlights of this year. Photo by Aakash Dhage on Unsplash It has been a busy year for Parkinson’s research. With updates in many areas of research, and 149 research studies taking place worldwide, there’s been plenty to talk about. Join us as we take a look at some of the highlights from the year. Parkinson’s research in the headlines In the year that saw the World Parkinson Congress take place in Barcelona, there was plenty of Parkinson’s research to celebrate. Celebrating Parkinson’s ..read more

Since 2021, we’ve been working on our Race Equality in Research project to address the lack of diversity in Parkinson’s research. Find out about our plans for the next stage of this work. Photo by Ev on Unsplash To be sure that new treatments will work for everyone, we need everyone with Parkinson’s to be represented in research. But we know that, right now, that’s not the reality. This is a problem as it impacts our understanding of Parkinson’s as a condition. Cultural and even genetic differences between groups of people mean that, unless everyone is included in the research ..read more

Highlights from the World Parkinson Congress — The gut and Parkinson’s The World Parkinson Congress takes place every three years in a different place around the world, and provides an opportunity for the whole Parkinson’s community to get together. In 2023, the congress was held in Barcelona between 4–7 July. This blog is part of a series that brings you some of the research highlights from the congress. (Photo by Roman on Unsplash) Parkinson’s is primarily thought of as a condition that’s to do with the brain. It is often diagnosed after symptoms have developed due to a reduction in a vital ..read more

A mysterious story about how L-type calcium channels help dopamine be released…but only sometimes! Hello! My name is Katherine and I am a neuroscientist at the University of Oxford funded by Parkinson’s UK. My work is focused on understanding the causes of Parkinson’s by researching the mechanisms that control dopamine release. A few years ago, I decided to write an accessible version of a scientific paper we had written, and found it such a rewarding experience I decided to do it again! You can read my previous post here. The big picture: We know that people with Parkinson’s don’t ..read more

Black History Month — Breaking barriers in research together We celebrate Black History Month by sharing the stories of those working to improve representation of people with African and Caribbean heritage in Parkinson’s research. Linda and Toussaint share their thoughts on the importance of representation in Parkinson’s research. Black History Month is about sharing, honouring and appreciating the invaluable contributions of Black people to the UK. It is also about amplifying voices, sharing stories and challenging inequalities faced by the Black community. Parkinson’s does not discrimin ..read more

Problems with memory and thinking are common in Parkinson’s. But both people with the condition and health professionals can find it hard to broach the subject. In this blog we hear from researcher Dr Rimona Weil and artist Anne Marr about a creative collaborative project — called Patterns of Perception — that aimed to address this problem and led to the development of two new booklets — one for people with the condition and their families, one for health professionals — to help open up conversations about Parkinson’s dementia. Let’s meet them! Dr Rimona Weil (left) and Anne Marr&nbs ..read more

Highlights from the World Parkinson Congress — Emerging therapies The World Parkinson Congress takes place every three years in a different place around the world, and provides an opportunity for the whole Parkinson’s community to get together. In 2023, the congress was held in Barcelona between 4–7 July. This blog is part of a series that brings you some of the research highlights from the congress. Photo by Volodymyr Hryshchenko on Unsplash At the moment, there are 162 Parkinson’s clinical trials taking place worldwide. These are testing both new and repurposed drugs for Parkinson’s, to ..read more