Latest news with #Parkinsons
Daily Mail
5 hours ago
- Health
- Daily Mail
Strange sign in earwax may predict if you'll get brain disorder that affects 10million
That gross, waxy stuff in your ears could actually say a lot about your health. Researchers in China have identified key differences in the makeup of earwax in people with Parkinson's disease compared to people without the condition, suggesting the sticky stuff holds secrets that could flag a person's risk of eventually developing the condition. Scientists at Zhejiang University took earwax samples from 100 people with Parkinson's and 79 without. They chose earwax because much of it is made up of sebum, an oily substance that undergoes chemical changes in cases of Parkinson's, and releases distinct volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Parkinson's triggers neurodegeneration, inflammation, and oxidative stress, altering sebum's composition and creating a distinct odor. It also progressively damages the brain, causing tremors, stiffness, and slow movement. Over time, symptoms worsen to include sudden freezing, speech loss, swallowing problems — often leading to pneumonia — and falls, both common causes of death among people with Parkinson's. Four specific types of VOCs stood out among people with the condition, suggesting that earwax could potentially be an accessible indicator of Parkinson's, which would allow patients to avoid invasive diagnostic tests and spinal taps. Around 1million Americans and 10million people globally currently have the disease, with nearly 90,000 new cases diagnosed each year. As that number is projected to climb, early diagnosis is more important than ever. While there is no cure, medication regimens can be started early to treat symptoms and slow down the progression of the disease. Researchers fed the VOC data from the samples of earwax into an algorithm that categorized subjects' Parkinson's status accurately 94 percent of the time, demonstrating the potential for a fast, reliable diagnostic tool. The VOCs that stood out to researchers were all significant in differentiating between people with the condition and those without it, even after accounting for age and lifestyle factors. Two of the VOCS, Ethylbenzene & 4-Ethyltoluene, are compounds commonly found in plastics and petroleum products. Their presence suggests inflammation in the brain, which is a key driver of the breakdown of dopamine in the brain. Dopamine, while often thought of as a 'feel good' neurotransmitter, is a key chemical messenger that regulates movement control. As dopamine levels plummet while Parkinson's progresses, people become steadily more immobile. Another significant VOC was Pentanal, which is produced when fats break down. Elevated levels suggest cell damage, a hallmark of Parkinson's. The compound has been linked to an accumulation of protein clumps in patients' brains. And the VOC 2-Pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane likely reflects issues with the metabolism of fats, which could have originated from microbiome changes in the skin of patients. It's unclear whether this VOC has any direct links to PD, but there is an expanding body of research pointing to a connection between PD and an imbalance in the gut microbiome. Research suggests that VOCs are produced by the balance of good bacteria in the gut, which have also been associated with brain health. An imbalance that allows harmful bacteria to flourish, leading to a proliferation of toxins that can cause inflammation in the brain. VOCs come from a wide array of toxic sources in the environment, from pesticides used to grow food, industrial chemicals in gasoline, and solvents in everyday items like dry cleaning chemicals and adhesives, to cleaning products, car emissions, and contaminated groundwater. Parkinson's is believed to be caused by a confluence of genetic and environmental factors. It is the world's fastest-growing brain disorder, and, according to NIH research, 'exposure to environmental toxicants is the principal reason.' In the US, deaths from Parkinson's disease have more than doubled in the past 20 years, with about 35,000 deaths in 2019 compared to 14,500 in 1999. Parkinson's death rates rose from 42 to 65 deaths per 100,000 from 1999–2017 While considering the clues that earwax can provide about Parkinson's development is new, investigating the role that VOCs play is not. A sweeping 2023 meta-analysis identified distinct VOCs present in the breath and skin oil in people with the disease compared to those without it. These compounds are specifically linked with oxidative stress, or a barrage of damage that cells endure before dying. Dr Hao Dong, a co-researcher on the recent study, said: 'This method is a small-scale single-center experiment in China. 'The next step is to conduct further research at different stages of the disease, in multiple research centers and among multiple ethnic groups, in order to determine whether this method has greater practical application value.'
Yahoo
8 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
Alzheimer's and Parkinson's charities identify new ways to reuse current drugs
Scientists are to examine whether drugs that are already in use could be repurposed to treat the symptoms of both Alzheimer's disease and Parkinson's in a new collaboration which aims to discover novel treatments at pace. Experts say that by repurposing drugs, they can 'increase the shots on target' at tackling the diseases. This method of drug development could also reduce the time patients are left waiting for new treatments by up to 10 years, they added. It comes after the NHS spending watchdog rejected the use of new Alzheimer's drugs lecanemab and donanemab for widespread use in the health service. The drugs were approved for use in the UK last year by the UK's medicines regulator but the NHS spending watchdog, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (Nice), said they could not be used in the NHS because the benefits are 'too small' to justify the cost. Now charities Cure Parkinson's and Alzheimer's Research UK have joined forces to find current drugs that may tackle some of the common biology behind both diseases. After presentations to the International Linked Clinical Trials (iLCT), which was set up by Cure Parkinson's over a decade ago, experts from both fields will select the most promising drugs for both Parkinson's and dementia, so they can be moved quickly into clinical trials. Weight loss jabs are already being investigated for their effectiveness in treating symptoms of both diseases and experts hope to uncover more drugs that can have multiple uses. Semaglutide, the active ingredient for weight loss and diabetes drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, is being examined in clinical trials to see whether it can help patients with Alzheimer's disease or Parkinson's. Trial results for the Alzheimer's trial are expected to be published later this year. Dr Sheona Scales, director of research at Alzheimer's Research UK, told the PA news agency that the iLCT project had already been 'hugely successful' with people who have Parkinson's, adding: 'Around 30% of disease modifying therapies that are in clinical trials for Parkinson's disease came through this process. 'What we wanted to do is to build on their knowledge and experience and expertise in order to be able to bring a process similar to that to Alzheimer's disease.' Dr Scales said that there are some 'common grounds' between Parkinson's and Alzheimer's – both are neurodegenerative diseases and have some 'common biological processes' – such as inflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction and 'protein misfolding' – which could be targets for repurposed drugs. 'Getting multiple drugs that are targeting the disease is really important to us,' she said. 'Testing different types of drugs and getting as many shots on target is important.' She said: 'Repurposed drugs have already been demonstrated to be safe for use in humans development of new drugs for different diseases is a long process. 'What essentially bringing repurposed drugs does, is help to accelerate the drug development pipeline – it could save between five and 10 years within that process, compared to taking a new drug through clinical trials for the very first time.' Helen Matthews, chief executive of Cure Parkinson's, said the iLCT was originally set up to identify drugs that can potentially 'slow down, stop or reverse Parkinson's'. She added: 'It was through this programme that we realised that there were so many drugs that were also being looked at in the dementia field and there were commonalities there in terms of the drugs looking to reduce inflammation, or whatever it might be, there were specific pathways that those drugs were working on that could be beneficial for both disease areas. 'So given that we were already doing the (work) every year, it made sense to join forces in this way, just to add efficiencies. 'Because if you're looking at the same drugs, we'll only do that digging once, you know, only do that compilation of the dossiers once, so that you can actually take the learning for both diseases and then actually look and see which might be beneficial.' She said that the 'sharing of knowledge and digging' could also be shared with other disease areas, such as MS. And on lecanemab and donanemab, Dr Scales added: '(These) were the first disease-targeting therapies that have been licensed in the UK, but obviously are not available on the NHS at the moment. 'They showed for the very first time that we were able to alter the course of the disease. 'And what we're looking forward to now is what the next generation of treatments can bring us and how we can target different parts of the disease.' Dr Lucy Devendra, head of research at Alzheimer's Society, said: 'Repurposing medicines which are already known to be safe can help us find new treatments for the diseases that cause dementia much quicker. 'Although it is still early days, it's encouraging to see a renewed focus on this type of research and development.'
Forbes
12 hours ago
- Health
- Forbes
Hacking The Brain: Czech Neurotech Startup Stimvia Brings AI To Non-Invasive BCI
Lukáš Doskočil, founder and CEO of Stimvia Stimvia, a Czech startup founded by medical device executive Lukáš Doskočil, has developed a non-invasive neuromodulation system that uses electrical pulses to stimulate deep brain structures through the leg. Called URIS, the technology was first deployed to treat overactive bladder, but now shows early promise for a range of neurological disorders including Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, and Restless Leg Syndrome, which is treated with Parkinson's medication. A patient secures URIS sensors behind the knee, where a nerve provides access to the central nervous ... More system. At the core of Stimvia's approach is what Doskočil calls a "hack" into the brain via the peroneal nerve behind the knee. The URIS system uses proprietary non-invasive electrodes to send electrical signals along afferent nerve pathways to the prefrontal cortex, eliminating the need for invasive implants or surgery. "We did a mechanistic study using functional MRI and showed stimulation effects in deep brain structures," Doskočil told me. "That's never been done non-invasively before." Patients can easily control the intensity and duration of the treatment. Pilot studies testing the Stimvia URIS device for treating Parkinson's disease have turned heads in the neurology and urology communities. A study conducted at Ostrava University Hospital found that Parkinson's patients using URIS experienced measurable reductions in resting tremor and improvements in quality of life. 'Patients showed marked improvement in motor symptoms and overall well-being, with quality-of-life scores surpassing clinically meaningful thresholds. All without serious side effects,' said Professor David Skoloudik, Vice-Dean for Research at Ostrava University's Medical Faculty. A separate clinical paper notes URIS® may outperform traditional sacral and tibial nerve stimulation in treating bladder dysfunction without the needles or surgery. Stimvia's URIS device is connected to a companion app that collects data from each session, monitors patient symptoms, and adapts the stimulation protocol accordingly. Its latest version uses an AI-driven virtual assistant to optimize electrode placement and fine-tune pulse parameters in real time. "You could call it a virtual doctor," Doskočil said. It personalizes treatment using real-time body feedback, which represents a breakthrough for non-invasive therapy.' Stimvia's non-invasion URIS treatments are also painless. Patients are able to read, watch tv, or ... More even nap while undergoing treatment. The field is dominated by billion-dollar U.S. companies like Medtronic and Abbott. Boston Scientific last year bought Stimiva's competitor, Axonics, which also treats overactive bladder disorders, for almost $4B. Stimvia is small but agile. With 15 employees and manufacturing based in Pardubice, CZ, the company has already raised $8 million and is preparing a Series A round. It has shipped more than 200 units and is actively expanding across Europe. Denmark was the first foreign market, but the device is now being adopted in clinics across France, Italy, Spain, Greece, the Netherlands, and the UK. Stimvia recently earned MDR certification from German standards body TÜV SÜD, opening the door to reimbursement in EU healthcare systems and clearing a path toward FDA approval. Patients can control the intensity and duration of the URIS treatment for Parkinson's symptoms. The implications go beyond overactive bladder, which affects 500 million people globally and is quietly responsible for a massive adult diaper industry and associated greenhouse gas emissions. 'The actual number is likely much higher and may approach the 1 billion mark, given a prevalence of around 16% among adults—surpassing even diabetes,' Doskočil told me. 'However, it remains a highly stigmatized condition that will become increasingly significant as the population ages.' According to Wired Czechia, investors have taken notice. Stimvia is backed by local venture funds like Xenocles, Venture Capital Partners and Purple Ventures, with another five to ten million in new funding expected soon. But Doskočil, who is not a doctor but trained in economics and medical technology, says Europe's fragmented reimbursement landscape makes it harder to scale. That's why the company is now setting its sights on the United States, where one FDA approval covers 50 states. 'It's not easy to innovate in Europe,' Doskočil told me. 'Every country is different. The U.S. is one market. That changes everything.' Stimvia is hiring a commercial team in Miami, including a new chief commercial officer with prior experience at LivaNova. The U.S. rollout will also include investigator-led trials, with hopes of replicating European success in a much larger market. Stimvia's technology offers new hope for patients with a range of brain-related conditions, from Parkinson's tremors to overactive bladder. As Doskočil says, 'OAB is a brain disease masquerading as a bladder problem,' highlighting how many disorders traditionally treated by symptoms are actually rooted deeply in the brain. With non-invasive neuromodulation, Stimvia is pioneering a new way to treat these conditions, changing lives without surgery or implants.
Fast Company
13 hours ago
- Health
- Fast Company
Ear wax may hold the key to early Parkinson's diagnosis
An unlikely body byproduct may be able to help doctors diagnose Parkinson's Disease early. According to a new Chinese study, which was published in Analytical Chemistry, ear canal secretion, or ear wax, contain chemical compounds which can be telltale signs of Parkinson's. During the study, researchers examined ear canal secretions from 209 people. About half (108 of the participants) had Parkinson's. In their examinations, scientists were able to identify four volatile organic compounds (VOC) that were notably different in those with the disease. Those compounds, or biomarkers, were ethylbenzene, 4-ethyltoluene, pentanal, and 2-pentadecyl-1,3-dioxolane. The scientists then trained an artificial intelligence olfactory (AIO) system on the biomarker data. And once training was complete, the AIO system was able to successfully determine which patients had Parkinson's and which did not. The system was accurate 94% of the time. Currently, Parkinson's is a tough disease to diagnose. According to Mayo Clinic, it requires expensive imaging, neurological tests, blood tests, genetic testing, and more. And often, a diagnosis is still often not conclusive. Likewise, treatment is a work-in-progress, with current therapies aimed at slowing progression rather than curing it. Therefore, ear wax testing could be a breakthrough first-step screening tool that's inexpensive, noninvasive, and accessible. The researchers who worked on the study say the findings are a major step in Parkinson's early detection, which currently, doesn't exist, but that more research is needed. 'This method is a small-scale single-center experiment in China,' study coauthor Hao Dong said in a press release. Hoa Dong continued, 'The next step is to conduct further research at different stages of the disease, in multiple research centers and among multiple ethnic groups, in order to determine whether this method has greater practical application value.'
The Independent
13 hours ago
- Health
- The Independent
Early signs of Parkinson's disease could be found in your ear
Researchers have developed a new system that could enable early detection of Parkinson's disease by analysing ear wax. The method identifies specific volatile organic compounds in sebum, the main ingredient of ear wax, which are altered in individuals with Parkinson's. Scientists swabbed the ear canals of 209 participants and identified four distinct compounds that serve as potential biomarkers for the condition. An artificial intelligence olfactory system was trained with this data, achieving 94 per cent accuracy in categorising samples from individuals with and without Parkinson's. This AI -powered system could serve as an inexpensive, first-line screening tool for Parkinson's, though further multi-centre research is needed.
