Alexandra Zirra,Kamalesh C Dey,Ellen Camboe,Sheena Waters,Tahrina Haque,Brook Huxford,Harneek Chohan,Natalie Donkor,Joshua Kahan,Aaron Ben-Joseph,David A Gallagher,Caroline Budu,Thomas Boyle,Cristina Simonet,Andrew J Lees,Charles R Marshall,Alastair J Noyce
{"title":"The East London Parkinson's disease project - a case-control study of Parkinson's Disease in a diverse population.","authors":"Alexandra Zirra,Kamalesh C Dey,Ellen Camboe,Sheena Waters,Tahrina Haque,Brook Huxford,Harneek Chohan,Natalie Donkor,Joshua Kahan,Aaron Ben-Joseph,David A Gallagher,Caroline Budu,Thomas Boyle,Cristina Simonet,Andrew J Lees,Charles R Marshall,Alastair J Noyce","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-01031-x","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01031-x","url":null,"abstract":"There is a relative dearth of research on patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) from under-represented ethnic groups in the United Kingdom. The East London Parkinson Disease project seeks to understand the clinical manifestations and determinants of PD in a diverse population. Data on clinical features were collected, between 2019 and 2024. We assessed 218 patients with PD and 90 controls. Among them, 50% of patients and 64% controls identified as South Asian or Black. South Asian and Black patients had significantly worse motor scores compared to White patients (mean [SD], 42.2 [18.8], and 47.0 [16.6] vs 35.2 [16.4], p < 0.001 and p < 0.001). Cognitive impairment was more prevalent in South Asian (73%) and Black patients (75%) than in White patients (45%, p = 0.002). Our results suggest that patients with PD from South Asian and Black ethnic groups may have more severe motor and certain non-motor features, including cognitive impairment, compared to White patients.","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"1 1","pages":"172"},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144311428","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Mattias Andréasson, Wojciech Paslawski, Astrid Juhl Terkelsen, Kristin Samuelsson, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Páll Karlsson, Per Svenningsson
{"title":"Cutaneous nerve fiber pathology and function in Parkinson’s disease and atypical parkinsonism – a cohort study","authors":"Mattias Andréasson, Wojciech Paslawski, Astrid Juhl Terkelsen, Kristin Samuelsson, Henrik Zetterberg, Kaj Blennow, Páll Karlsson, Per Svenningsson","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-01030-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01030-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>There is scientific evidence for ongoing neurodegeneration and alpha-synuclein pathology involving the peripheral nervous system in Parkinson’s disease (PD) and multiple system atrophy (MSA). We explored putative disease-mirroring properties of cutaneous nerve fibers in patients with PD (<i>n</i> = 20), MSA (<i>n</i> = 12), four-repeat tauopathies (<i>n</i> = 11), and controls (<i>n</i> = 20). Assessments included clinical rating scales, blood sampling, sudomotor testing, skin punch biopsies from the neck and leg, and 1-year follow-up. Skin alpha-synuclein seeding amplification assay (SAA) and determination of intraepidermal nerve fiber density (IENFD) were performed. Reduced electrochemical skin conductance was evident in MSA, associated with clinical rating scores. Cervical skin SAA (PD vs controls) achieved a 100% sensitivity and 70% specificity for detecting PD. We found no difference in baseline IENFD, nor in 1-year changes, in patients relative to controls. Baseline IENFD, plasma neurofilament light, and SAA kinetics associated with 1-year clinical disease progression in MSA. Skin may harbor promising prognostic properties in MSA.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"10 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-15","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144290228","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Yi Xing, Miao Lin, Jingzhe Li, Xiaoran Huang, Lei Yan, Jingru Ren, Hao Zhou, Shuoying Chen, Yiting Cao, Peiyu Huang, Weiguo Liu
{"title":"Perivascular space fluid diffusivity predicts clinical deterioration in prodromal and early-stage Parkinson’s disease","authors":"Yi Xing, Miao Lin, Jingzhe Li, Xiaoran Huang, Lei Yan, Jingru Ren, Hao Zhou, Shuoying Chen, Yiting Cao, Peiyu Huang, Weiguo Liu","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-01036-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01036-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The glymphatic system is essential for clearing toxic proteins from the brain, and understanding its dysfunction in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease (PD) may facilitate the development of disease-modifying therapies. This study aimed to evaluate alterations in glymphatic function and its correlation with disease progression in prodromal and early clinical stages of PD. Participants were categorized into three groups: prodromal PD (pPD), de novo PD (dnPD), and healthy controls (HCs), further divided by age. Glymphatic function was assessed using the ALPS index derived from diffusion tensor imaging. Results indicated that the ALPS index was significantly lower in older pPD and dnPD patients, correlating with various clinical symptoms. Longitudinal analysis revealed a decrease in the ALPS index over time in pPD patients who progressed to clinical PD, while it remained stable in non-converters. Additionally, the baseline ALPS index was predictive of the progression of both motor and non-motor symptoms in pPD patients. In dnPD patients, a lower baseline ALPS index predicted the progression of motor symptoms in the older subgroup. Overall, the ALPS index is reduced in the early stages of PD and may serve as a predictor for disease progression.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"13 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-14","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144290233","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Excitation-inhibition balance abnormally shapes structure–function coupling of gray matter in Parkinson’s disease","authors":"Zhengye Cao, Na Wang, Hongjie Hu, Hongying Zhang, Jingtao Wu, Song’an Shang","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-01028-6","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01028-6","url":null,"abstract":"<p>How neurobiological underpinnings regulate the heterogeneous expression of structural-functional connectivity coupling (SFC) in Parkinson’s disease (PD) remains largely unknown. Our work examines changes in SFC in PD patients. The investigation was carried out to check the spatial distribution of SFC along the cyto-architectonic hierarchy. We related the excitation-inhibition balance (E/I ratio) to the expression of SFC in both PD and normal controls. The difference in the impact of the E/I ratio on SFC was compared between the groups. We found that widespread SFC increases occurred in PD. The distribution of SFC gradually increased along the cyto-architectonic hierarchy. A lower E/I ratio was found to be associated with more rigid SFC in both groups. The abilities of E/I ratio shaping SFC were heterogeneously disturbed in PD. Our work delivers a new framework to conceptualize structure–function relationships in PD patients, paving the way for an improved understanding of how neurobiological factors induce reorganization in the brain with PD invasion.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"25 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144288526","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Milan Zimmermann, Madeleine Fandrich, Meike Jakobi, Benjamin Röben, Isabel Wurster, Stefanie Lerche, Claudia Schulte, Shahrzad Zimmermann, Christian Deuschle, Nicole Schneiderhan-Marra, Thomas O. Joos, Thomas Gasser, Kathrin Brockmann
{"title":"Elevated cerebrospinal fluid levels of SERPIN E1 in participants with lewy body diseases","authors":"Milan Zimmermann, Madeleine Fandrich, Meike Jakobi, Benjamin Röben, Isabel Wurster, Stefanie Lerche, Claudia Schulte, Shahrzad Zimmermann, Christian Deuschle, Nicole Schneiderhan-Marra, Thomas O. Joos, Thomas Gasser, Kathrin Brockmann","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-00984-3","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00984-3","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Parkinson’s disease (PD) exhibits substantial phenotypic variability, likely influenced, at least in part, by proteins associated with pathways integral to aging processes. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (SERPIN E1) is known for its association with aging processes and exacerbated α-Synuclein pathology. We examined whether SERPIN E1 levels in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) differ among controls (CON, <i>N</i> = 16) and patients with PD (<i>N</i> = 479) or Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB, <i>N</i> = 67), considering that these conditions represent a spectrum of α-Synuclein pathology. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis stratified by SERPIN E1 tertile levels was conducted to evaluate phenotype-modifying effects. Elevated levels of SERPIN E1 exhibited an association with increased age and lower MOCA scores. Heightened SERPIN E1 levels were observed in individuals diagnosed with DLB, followed by PD and CON, and in males compared to females. The quantification of SERPIN E1 in CSF could potentially serve as a surrogate marker, depicting (pathological) aging processes.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"1 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144278720","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Repurposing the memory-promoting meclofenoxate hydrochloride as a treatment for Parkinson’s disease through integrative multi-omics analysis","authors":"Huasong Zhang, Cong Fan, Ling Li, Feiyi Liu, Shaoying Li, Linyun Ma, Yuanhao Yang, David N. Cooper, Yuedong Yang, Ronggui Hu, Huiying Zhao","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-01027-7","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01027-7","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a devastating neurodegenerative disorder with growing prevalence worldwide and, as yet, no effective treatment. Drug repurposing is invaluable for detecting novel PD therapeutics. Here, we compiled gene expression data from 1231 healthy human brain samples and 357 samples across tissues, ethnicities, brain regions, Braak stages, and disease status. By integrating them with multiple-source genomic data, we found a PD-associated gene co-expression module, and its alignment with the CMAP database successfully identified drug candidates. Among these, meclofenoxate hydrochloride (MH) and sodium phenylbutyrate (SP) are indicated to be able to prevent mitochondrial destruction, reduce lipid peroxidation, and protect dopamine synthesis. MH was validated to prevent neuronal death and synaptic damage, improve motor function, and reduce anhedonic and depressive-like behaviors of PD mice. The interaction of MH with a PD-related protein, sigma1, was confirmed experimentally. Thus, our findings support that MH potentially ameliorates PD by interacting with sigma1.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"8 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144288527","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Hai-Yang Wang, Lu Ren, Zhongrui Yan, Tingting Zhou, Zhanhua Liang
{"title":"Neural basis of dysexecutive and visuospatial impairments in Parkinson’s disease with MCI: a task-based fNIRS study","authors":"Hai-Yang Wang, Lu Ren, Zhongrui Yan, Tingting Zhou, Zhanhua Liang","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-01013-z","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01013-z","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Parkinson’s disease with mild cognitive impairment (PD-MCI) includes various cognitive deficits, classified into two subtypes based on the “dual syndrome hypothesis”: the executive-dominant dopamine pathway dysfunction impairing executive and language functions (PD-EL subtype), and the visuospatial-dominant non-dopaminergic dysfunction affecting visuospatial perception, attention, and memory (PD-VAM subtype). This study involved 182 participants (122 PD, 60 controls) undergoing cognitive assessments. Using PD-MCI Level II criteria, patients were categorized as PD with normal cognition (PD-NC, 48), PD-EL (34), or PD-VAM (40). Functional near-infrared spectroscopy measured brain activation during verbal fluency (executive) and line orientation (visuospatial) tasks. PD-EL showed lower word accuracy and reduced activation in dorsolateral/ventrolateral prefrontal cortices, supplementary motor area, and orbitofrontal cortex compared to PD-NC. PD-VAM had lower line orientation scores and reduced ventrolateral prefrontal activation. These findings suggest that PD-MCI subtypes may exhibit differential neural activation patterns reflecting their cognitive deficits, underscoring the need for targeted interventions and mechanistic research.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"609 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144278722","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Ilaria Belluomo, Munir Tarazi, Nicholas P. Lao-Kaim, Yen F. Tai, Patrik Spanel, George B. Hanna
{"title":"Detection of Volatile Organic Compounds as an emerging strategy for Parkinson’s disease diagnosis and monitoring","authors":"Ilaria Belluomo, Munir Tarazi, Nicholas P. Lao-Kaim, Yen F. Tai, Patrik Spanel, George B. Hanna","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-00993-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00993-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Growing evidence suggests that specific volatile organic compound (VOC) profiles may reflect key pathophysiological processes in Parkinson’s disease (PD), including alterations in the microbiome, metabolism, and oxidative stress. Identifying reliable VOC biomarkers could enable non-invasive tests for early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and therapy evaluation. This review examines VOC analysis in biological matrices such as breath, skin, and stool, outlining current research and future applications in PD. We evaluate analytical techniques based on sensitivity, specificity, and clinical applicability. Additionally, we classify VOCs identified in previous studies alongside their proposed biological origins. Special attention is given to short-chain fatty acids, produced by the gut microbiome, a novel target in PD research. Our findings highlight the need for larger cohort studies and standardized protocols to advance VOC-based diagnostics in PD. Understanding the interplay between VOCs and PD may facilitate biomarker discovery, enhancing non-invasive diagnostic strategies and personalized disease management.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"51 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144269042","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Emadeldin Hassanin, Zied Landoulsi, Sinthuja Pachchek, Peter Krawitz, Carlo Maj, Rejko Krüger, Patrick May, Dheeraj Reddy Bobbili
{"title":"Penetrance of Parkinson’s disease in GBA1 carriers depends on variant severity and polygenic background","authors":"Emadeldin Hassanin, Zied Landoulsi, Sinthuja Pachchek, Peter Krawitz, Carlo Maj, Rejko Krüger, Patrick May, Dheeraj Reddy Bobbili","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-00997-y","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-00997-y","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Heterozygous <i>GBA1</i> variants increase Parkinson’s disease (PD) risk with variable penetrance. We investigated the interaction between genome-wide polygenic risk scores (PRS) and severity of pathogenic <i>GBA1</i> variants (<i>GBA1</i><sub>PVs</sub>) to assess their combined impact on PD risk. <i>GBA1</i> variants were identified from whole exome sequencing in the UK Biobank and targeted PacBio sequencing in the Luxembourg Parkinson’s Study, with PRS calculated using genome-wide significant SNPs. <i>GBA1</i><sub>PVs</sub> were present in 8.8% of PD patients in the UK Biobank and 9.9% in LuxPark, with carriers showing consistently higher PD risk across all PRS categories. In the highest PRS category, PD risk increased 2.3-fold in the UK Biobank and 1.6-fold in LuxPark. Severe and mild <i>GBA1</i> variants conferred nearly double the risk of PD compared to risk variants. Our findings demonstrate the impact of PRS on <i>GBA1</i><sub>PVs</sub> penetrance, highlighting implications for genetic counseling and clinical trial design in <i>GBA1</i>-associated PD.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"136 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144269106","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Theresa Lüth, Amke Caliebe, Carolin Gabbert, Sebastian Sendel, Björn-Hergen Laabs, Inke R. König, Christine Klein, Joanne Trinh
{"title":"Longitudinal assessment of the association between pesticide exposure and lifestyle with Parkinson’s disease motor severity","authors":"Theresa Lüth, Amke Caliebe, Carolin Gabbert, Sebastian Sendel, Björn-Hergen Laabs, Inke R. König, Christine Klein, Joanne Trinh","doi":"10.1038/s41531-025-01010-2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1038/s41531-025-01010-2","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Longitudinal investigations on the relationship between lifestyle exposures and motor severity are lacking. In this longitudinal study, we included patients with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease (iPD) (<i>N</i> = 5139) and <i>LRRK2</i>-related PD (<i>N</i> = 81) from PPMI-Online and Fox Insight. Motor aspects were followed for up to five years. We investigated the association between environmental exposure, lifestyle factors and motor aspect severity over time by applying linear mixed effects models. In <i>LRRK2</i>-PD, black tea consumption was associated with less severe motor aspects (β = −0.51, <i>p</i> = 0.028). In patients with iPD, pesticide exposure was associated with more severe motor aspects over time in PPMI-Online (β = 0.23, <i>p</i> = 3.56 × 10<sup>−</sup><sup>9</sup>). Lastly, caffeinated soda was associated with more severe motor aspects in patients with iPD from PPMI-Online (β = 0.15, <i>p</i> = 3.84 × 10<sup>−8</sup>) and Fox Insight (β = 0.09, <i>p</i> = 0.031). We suggest that pesticide exposure and lifestyle factors may affect motor severity in patients with <i>LRRK2</i>-PD and iPD, demonstrating the impact on patients even after disease onset.</p>","PeriodicalId":19706,"journal":{"name":"NPJ Parkinson's Disease","volume":"26 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":8.7,"publicationDate":"2025-06-12","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144278721","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":1,"RegionCategory":"医学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}