Feb 24, 2026
Study will evaluate safety, tolerability, and pharmacokinetics
Written by Andrea Lobo | February 23, 2026
- A Phase 1b trial of SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine) in advanced Parkinson’s disease has enrolled its first patient.
- SER-252 is designed to reduce “off” episodes by providing continuous dopaminergic stimulation.
- The trial is evaluating safety and early efficacy, and the therapy is designed for subcutaneous self-administration.
A Phase 1b clinical trial evaluating Serina Therapeutics’s SER-252 (POZ-apomorphine) in people with advanced Parkinson’s disease has enrolled its first patient, the company announced.
The global registrational trial is evaluating the treatment’s safety, tolerability, pharmacokinetics, and preliminary efficacy. The first group of participants is being enrolled in Australia, where the company has an operational presence. Serina said it expects to begin dosing in the first quarter and plans to provide updates as enrollment progresses.
Phase 1b study designed to support regulatory development
Serina said the trial is intended to generate data to support future regulatory submissions.
“Enrolling our first patient represents an important operational milestone as we advance SER-252 into the clinic,” Steve Ledger, Serina’s CEO, said in a company press release. “Our team has built a strong operational presence in Australia, working closely with leading Parkinson’s disease specialists and patient advocacy organizations to support efficient enrollment.”
Serina has said it plans to pursue SER-252 through the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s 505(b)(2) regulatory pathway, which allows companies to rely in part on data from previously approved drugs.
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons, the nerve cells that produce dopamine, a chemical messenger the brain uses to coordinate movement. Levodopa is a mainstay treatment that helps ease motor symptoms by providing a precursor molecule the body converts into dopamine.
However, long-term levodopa use can cause side effects such as dyskinesia, or involuntary movements, and many patients experience “off” episodes, periods of reduced symptom control that occur between doses.
Read more here: First patient enrolled in new SER-252 trial for advanced Parkinson’s disease
Feb 20, 2026
Metabolic shift triggers the use of backup fuel regardless of calorie intake
Written by Michela Luciano, PhD | February 20, 2026
- Parkinson’s weight loss stems from a metabolic shift, burning fat instead of glucose, not just reduced calorie intake.
- Patients primarily lose body fat, not muscle, due to impaired glucose processing and mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Future interventions should target metabolic pathways, as increased calories alone may not prevent weight loss.
The weight loss commonly seen in Parkinson’s disease isn’t just about eating less. It’s about a fundamental shift in how the body fuels itself.
According to a new study, Parkinson’s patients primarily lose body fat, not muscle, because their bodies struggle to process glucose, a complex sugar the body normally relies on as its primary energy source. As a result, their bodies are forced to burn fat and protein as a “backup” energy source, especially those with lower body fat or with more advanced disease.
This discovery by Japanese researchers suggests that simply increasing calorie intake may not be enough to stop weight loss if the body’s primary energy pathway is disrupted.
“We clarified that it is not the muscle that is decreasing, but the fat,” Hirohisa Watanabe, PhD, professor at Fujita Health University, who led the study, said in a university press release. “This changes how we should think about weight loss in Parkinson’s disease.”
Although “future longitudinal studies … are needed to clarify these metabolic shifts,” researchers noted the results “highlight metabolic pathways as potential targets for interventions to mitigate weight loss in [Parkinson’s].”
The study, “Metabolic profiles associated with fat loss in Parkinson’s disease,” was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry.
Read more here: Parkinson’s weight loss driven by burning fat instead of glucose
Feb 19, 2026
Written by Margarida Maia, PhD | February 16, 2026
- Women with Parkinson’s show more uneven muscle contraction than men.
- Differences stem from motor unit firing variability and discharge rates.
- This informs personalized diagnostics and sex-specific Parkinson’s treatments.
Women with Parkinson’s disease have more uneven and unstable muscle contraction than men, even when their clinical symptoms are similar, a study found.
The differences are related to the firing of motor units; a motor unit is a single nerve cell and the muscle fibers it controls, which together produce movement.
Findings from the study, by researchers at Kanazawa University in Japan, could “contribute to the development of personalized diagnostic methods and treatment strategies that account for sex-specific factors, ultimately leading to more effective interventions and improved quality of life,” according to a university press release.
The study, “Sex Differences in Motor Unit Behavior in Patients with Parkinson’s Disease,” was published as a research report in the European Journal of Neuroscience by an international team of researchers.
Growing evidence suggests differences between men and women in how common Parkinson’s is and how its motor and nonmotor symptoms manifest. The researchers sought to determine whether there are sex differences in motor unit firing abnormalities in Parkinson’s patients.
Read more here: Parkinson’s muscle firing patterns different from women than for men
Feb 17, 2026
Medically reviewed by Heidi Moawad, M.D. — Written by S. Srakocic — Updated on February 9, 2026
Parkinson’s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative condition that causes symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, and speech difficulties. The condition progresses slowly, and symptoms get worse with time.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s can fluctuate throughout the day. For instance, you may feel better at lunchtime than you do in the late evening. But daily variations in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are mild, and symptoms don’t resolve completely on their own.
A sudden increase in Parkinson’s symptoms is almost always linked to an underlying cause. This could be something minor, such as a recent medication change, or something potentially serious, such as an infection.
Parkinson’s disease symptoms can fluctuate throughout the day and worsen during certain periods, such as the early morning or late evening. This is typically because medications begin to wear off between doses.
Parkinson’s symptoms get worse over time at a steady, but slow, rate.
Other underlying causes that can worsen Parkinson’s symptoms include:
- stress
- recent medication changes
- recent surgery or other medical procedures
- sleep difficulties
- dehydration
- a new injury or illness
It’s important to let your doctor or healthcare professional know if you notice a sudden change in your Parkinson’s symptoms.
Learn more here: Why Do Parkinson’s Disease Symptoms Come and Go?
Feb 10, 2026
MD Editorial Contributors
Medically Reviewed by Shruthi N, MD on September 18, 2024
Dysarthria (difficulty speaking) and dysphagia (difficulty swallowing) can be severely limiting symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Both can be helped by seeing a speech pathologist or speech therapist.
In particular, the Lee Silverman Voice Therapy Program has demonstrated significant value for people with Parkinson’s. Ask your doctor about a referral to a speech pathologist experienced in administering the Lee Silverman Voice Therapy program.
How Can I Improve My Speech With Parkinson’s Disease?
Speech-language pathologists can help people with Parkinson’s disease maintain as many communication skills as possible. They also teach techniques that conserve energy, including non-verbal communication skills. Speech-language pathologists are also available to:
- Recommend appropriate communication technologies that will help with daily activities.
- Treat all types of speech, language, and communication problems.
- Evaluate swallowing function and recommend changes as necessary.
Read more here: Parkinson’s Disease and Speech Therapy
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