May 19, 2026
Real-world data show treatment improves patients' quality of life
Written by Michela Luciano, PhD | May 14, 2026
- Vyalev, a continuous under-the-skin infusion, significantly reduces off time and dyskinesia in advanced Parkinson's disease.
- The treatment improves both motor and nonmotor symptoms, including pain and sleep disturbances.
- Patients see improved quality of life, and Vyalev's safety profile is consistent with prior clinical trials.
Vyalev, Abbvie‘s continuous under-the-skin infusion formulation of levodopa/carbidopa, reduces off time and eases motor and some nonmotor symptoms in adults with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
That’s according to six-month data from an ongoing real-world study, ROSSINI (NCT06107426), which also showed the therapy improves patients’ quality of life. The trial is evaluating Vyalev in routine clinical practice across 10 countries in 427 adults with advanced Parkinson’s who will be followed for up to three years.
“ROSSINI demonstrates reductions in motor fluctuations and nonmotor symptoms, and increased quality of life in patients with [advanced Parkinson’s disease] after [six] months of [Vyalev] treatment,” the researchers wrote. “The safety profile was consistent with clinical trials.”
The interim data were published in Neurology and Therapy in an Abbvie-funded study titled, “Real-World Safety and Effectiveness of 24-Hour Foslevodopa/Foscarbidopa in Parkinson’s Disease: ROSSINI Study 6-Month Interim Results.”
Parkinson’s disease is caused by the progressive loss of brain cells that produce the signaling molecule dopamine, resulting in Parkinson’s symptoms that most commonly affect movement and balance. A mainstay Parkinson’s treatment is oral levodopa, a precursor of dopamine that’s usually given together with carbidopa, a medicine that allows more levodopa to reach the brain and be converted into dopamine.
Maintaining levodopa
Levodopa/carbidopa therapy is usually effective at controlling symptoms. However, many patients eventually develop motor fluctuations, when motor symptoms return between scheduled doses during periods known as off episodes. Long-term levodopa treatment may also lead to dyskinesia, or uncontrolled and involuntary movements.
Vyalev, sold as Produodopa in Europe and the U.K., is designed to continuously deliver foslevodopa and foscarbidopa via a specialized pump 24 hours a day. These are prodrug forms of levodopa and carbidopa, inactive molecules that convert to the active medications once inside the body. By maintaining more stable levodopa levels, the therapy aims to reduce off episodes and improve symptom control.
May 18, 2026
Medically reviewed by Susan W. Lee, DO - Written by Carly Vandergriendt - Updated on February 7, 2024
Key takeaways
- Parkinson’s disease can cause an increase in sebum production, leading to a particular scent that is usually not strong enough for most people to detect.
- Researchers are exploring whether the unique composition of sebum in individuals with Parkinson’s could serve as a biomarker for early detection using specialized devices and artificial intelligence.
- A diminished sense of smell is common in Parkinson’s, potentially making those with the condition less aware of changes in their own body odor.
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive brain condition that affects movement. People with PD experience tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.
New research suggests that people with PD might also have a particular smell. That said, it’s not something the average person is likely to notice.
This article reviews what we know about how Parkinson’s affects your body odor and sense of smell.
Everyone has a scent, whether or not they have Parkinson’s. Factors such as genes, food, and hormones determine your distinctive smell.
Health conditions can also influence how you smell. Among people with Parkinson’s, changes in scent are linked to an increased production of sebum, an oily substance secreted from the sebaceous glands in the skin.
However, it’s not a scent that most people would notice. Authors of a 2019 review note that a person with a heightened sense of smell detected the PD odor only recently.
Most people cannot detect Parkinson’s disease by smelling it. Although PD is linked to a specific scent, it’s not a smell the average person is likely to notice.
People with extreme sensitivity to smell, known as hyperosmia, are more likely to notice the PD smell.
Scent as a potential biomarker
Sebum may be a biomarker for PD. So, testing sebum could be a way of showing that someone has Parkinson’s.
A few studies are investigating the role of sebum in diagnosing PD. For example, the authors of a 2021 study compared the biochemical makeup of sebum from people with PD and a control group.
They reported significant differences between the two groups and suggested that evaluating sebum profiles might be a noninvasive way to test for PD.
Another 2022 study involved the development of a smelling device that uses artificial intelligence to detect the PD scent in a sebum sample. Researchers concluded that doctors might be able to use their system alongside other diagnostic tests to catch early stage PD.
May 14, 2026
After my uncle's diagnosis, everything slowed down and took more planning
Written by Crystal Onyema | May 13, 2026
Before Parkinson’s disease, my late uncle Brandon was always on the move.
He always needed something to do, especially on weekends. If he wasn’t planning a hunting trip, he was outside grilling ribs, sausage, or brisket and inviting neighbors over without a second thought.
The house was rarely quiet. There was always laughter, music, and people dropping by. Family, friends, neighbors, and even strangers felt welcome. My uncle was at the heart of it all, bringing energy wherever he went. Life seemed to revolve around him.
That’s why, after his diagnosis, one of the biggest things I noticed wasn’t just the physical changes. It was the shift in rhythm.
Over time, everything slowed down. It happened little by little. Outings took more planning. Simple tasks took more time. Conversations stretched longer. There was more watching, waiting, and adjusting than before. As changes in movement and coordination became more noticeable, our family had to slowly adapt to a different pace.
At first, I don’t think I fully understood what was happening. I was so focused on helping, learning about Parkinson’s, and trying to support him that I didn’t immediately realize how much the overall energy of our lives had changed. But eventually, I noticed.
We started paying closer attention to what he needed. Things became more intentional and methodical. We learned to move in ways that helped him feel supported without making everything feel clinical or unfamiliar. Preserving a sense of normalcy became important to all of us, especially as mobility and balance became more unpredictable.
May 13, 2026
Medically reviewed by Meredith Goodwin, MD, FAAFP - Written by Rena Goldman - Updated on July 18, 2025
People move through the stages of Parkinson’s at a different pace. At each stage, treatments are available to help as symptoms progress.
The progression of Parkinson’s is described in five stages. Stage 1 is when early signs start to appear. Stage 5 describes the final stage of the disease, when a person needs around-the-clock nursing care.
For some people, it can take as long as 20 years to move through all the stages.
As you move through the stages, your doctor and care team will make changes to your treatment plan. That’s why it’s important to tell your doctor about any new symptoms or differences in how you feel.
In the early stages, taking medication works well to manage symptoms. But as Parkinson’s progresses, your medication may work for shorter periods of time, and symptoms may return more easily.
Many people notice a decrease in effectiveness after around 5 years. You may experience involuntary movements or be unable to move at all.
If you notice your medication becoming less effective, inform your healthcare provider. They may:
- change the time of the day and frequency of when you use your medication
- switch to sustained-release tablets (which release the drug gradually)
- change the doses
- prescribe additional medications such as COMT inhibitors, NMDA antagonists, anticholinergic drugs or MAO-B inhibitors
- add a dopamine agonist in addition to levodopa
Anxiety and depression have been linked to Parkinson’s and may occur before movement issues. Up to 40% of individuals with Parkinson’s will experience some form of anxiety, and up to 50% will experience some form of depression.
It’s possible that changes in your emotional well-being can be a sign of changing physical health as well. If you are more anxious than usual, have lost interest in things, or feel a sense of hopelessness, talk with your doctor.
A combination of therapy and medication may be used to help manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. Non-pharmacological complementary approaches can include mindfulness practices and social support.
As Parkinson’s progresses, you may also develop problems with sleep patterns. Alternatively, the onset of sleep disorders can precede movement difficulties. You might wake up often in the middle of the night or sleep more during the day than you do at night.
Excessive daytime sleepiness occurs in 30 to 50% of individuals with Parkinson’s disease. It may be related to medications or poor sleep. Some ways you may be able to prevent this can include:
- practicing good sleep hygiene, including a set bedtime and wake-up time
- getting exposure to light during the day and darkness at night
- avoiding sedentary activities during the day and getting regular exercise
Sleep apnea is also a common sleep disturbance, which occurs in 40% of people with Parkinson’s disease. A CPAP machine can help treat it.
Another sleep disturbance for people with Parkinson’s is rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder. This is when you start acting out your dreams in your sleep, such as verbally and physically, which can get uncomfortable — or even dangerous — if someone is sharing your bed.
There are medications your doctor can prescribe to help REM sleep behavior disorder, such as melatonin or clonazepam.
May 12, 2026
For athlete and author Steve Yellen, embracing challenges is empowering
Written by Mary Beth Skylis | May 7, 2026
Connecticut-based Steve Yellen was a weekend athlete before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease seven years ago. He first noticed a tremor in his left hand. Then he saw a neurologist, who confirmed the diagnosis.
Instead of succumbing to apathy, Yellen decided to do everything in his power to fight back. “I’ve always enjoyed problem-solving. My background is in engineering. I like understanding problems,” he told me during a recent phone call.
Yellen began learning about the potential of exercise while investigating his new life with Parkinson’s disease. Before long, he began creating short-term goals to give him a sense of autonomy over the disease.
“I started signing up for events for motivation. I’ve done 11 Spartan races, six triathlons, and raced up the Empire State Building three times in the last three years,” he said. Embracing new challenges made him feel empowered and capable in the face of Parkinson’s disease.
About a year after racing up the Empire State Building, Yellen realized that such events allowed him to leverage self-efficacy. “It’s basically a person’s belief that they can take hold of their situation. One of the ways you can enhance it is by [setting] short-term goals. When you achieve it, it’s like throwing a log on the fire,” he said.
Empowering others
It wasn’t long before Yellen realized he wanted to share the empowerment he’d found through his own physical challenges with others. “I started getting more involved with advocacy and research,” he said.
A friend suggested that Yellen write a book about his experience. At first, he said no. But then he started jotting down ideas on a piece of paper. On Jan. 1, 2025, he committed to the project. By the end of December, he had the first paperback copy in his hands.
Now available on Amazon, “Living Parkinson’s” details the seven strategies that Yellen has used to navigate life with Parkinson’s disease.
“It’s your attitude, education, your support (friends, family, doctors), exercise, wellness, participating in research, and advocacy,” he explained. “[The book] is based on the research and science I learned. It’s a guide that anyone can use to build their own road map, no matter when their journey began. It doesn’t tell you anything specific to do. It provides direction and offers some suggestions.”
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