New research lays groundwork for safer, more tailored deep brain stimulation

Written by Marisa Wexler, MS | April 6, 2026

• The findings from new research in China may enable personalized deep brain stimulation for people with Parkinson's.
• The study's scientists used MRI scans to track brain circuit changes during DBS treatment.
• The researchers say this work allows them to better understand how this type of Parkinson's treatment influences brain biology.

Scientists have demonstrated that it is possible to collect individualized data on how connections among brain circuits change for people with Parkinson’s disease who are undergoing deep brain stimulation (DBS) as a treatment for their symptoms.

These findings lay the groundwork for more individualized approaches for DBS, and also provide a new resource for researchers to better understand how this type of Parkinson’s treatment influences brain biology, according to the team.

The data were described in “Circuit response to neuromodulation characterized with simultaneous deep brain stimulation and precision neuroimaging in humans,” a study published in the journal Nature Neuroscience. The work was funded mainly by the National Key Research and Development Program of China and the National Natural Science Foundation of China.

The senior author of the study, Hesheng Liu, PhD, is the cofounder and chief scientific officer of Galaxy Brain Scientific, a China-based company that is working to advance personalized DBS approaches for Parkinson’s and other neurological disorders.

“Our goal is to redefine the treatment paradigm for brain disorders,” Liu said in a company press release detailing the findings. According to Galaxy, “this study establishes the world’s largest longitudinal … dataset to date” on DBS and MRI brain imaging scans.

“By moving from ‘one-size-fits-all’ to ‘one-person-one-strategy,’ we are now pioneering the application of this technology to treat complex conditions beyond Parkinson’s, including autism and Alzheimer’s disease,” Liu said.

Parkinson’s is a neurological disorder in which certain brain cells sicken and die, leading to disruptions in brain signaling that ultimately give rise to disease symptoms.

DBS is a surgical treatment for Parkinson’s in which tiny electrodes are implanted into the brain to deliver gentle electrical stimulation to specific brain regions. DBS is well-established as an effective approach for managing certain Parkinson’s symptoms.

Nonetheless, there’s often a lot of trial and error involved in finding the exact right settings to ease symptoms for each individual.

Each person decides when to share, who to tell, and how much to say

Written by Crystal Onyema | April 1, 2026

One of the initial things I didn’t understand when I became a Parkinson’s caregiver was that not everyone is ready to share their diagnosis right away. From the outside, it can feel like something that should just be said so that people understand what’s going on. But for my late uncle Brandon, it wasn’t that simple. What he was dealing with was real, but how and when he chose to share it was his own decision.

I saw this most clearly when he was with his friends, people who had known him for decades. They understood his sense of humor and how easily he could keep a conversation going. That was just him. So when he started speaking more slowly or took longer to answer, it didn’t seem like anything was different at first.

One of his closest friends laughed about it once, thinking he was just joking like usual and trying to make the moment last. I could see why they thought that. They were responding to the person they had always known. But they didn’t know he was living with Parkinson’s disease. He wasn’t ready to share that yet, and in that moment, I felt like I was carrying a quiet truth that no one else was in on.

Everyone has their own timing

Even early on, I could see that he knew things were changing. He still acted like himself, kept things light, and used humor to try to stay in a conversation. But there were small pauses that felt different. Sometimes I noticed him working harder to find his words or to keep up, even if no one else saw it. It wasn’t denial or avoidance. It was about timing and attempting to maintain control in a situation where so much felt uncertain.

3-year project to stop alpha-synuclein spread 'offers hope for a cure'

Written by Marisa Wexler, MS | March 31, 2026

• Parkinson's disease progression is linked to alpha-synuclein protein clumps in the brain.
• Scientists are developing therapies to block these toxic aggregates.
• The project aims for testing-ready treatment candidates by 2029.

Scientists in Denmark are embarking on a three-year project aiming to develop a Parkinson’s disease treatment that blocks the spread of toxic alpha-synuclein protein in the brain.

“This breakthrough project positions Denmark at the forefront of Parkinson’s disease research, with a bold strategy that offers hope for a cure for patients living with this terrible disease,” project leader Simon Glerup, PhD, associate professor at Aarhus University and co-founder and chief scientific officer of Draupnir Bio, said in a company press release.

Toxic clumps of alpha-synuclein in the brain are a molecular hallmark of Parkinson’s and are thought to play a central role in driving the disease. The project, funded by a 26.7 million DKK (just over $4 million) investment from Innovation Fund Denmark, aims to develop therapies that can target alpha-synuclein in the space around nerve cells. The goal is to stop the spread of these toxic protein clumps that are thought to drive Parkinson’s progression.

The project, dubbed DESYNA (Degradation of Extracellular alpha-SYNuclein Aggregates) will combine research into alpha-synuclein’s role in Parkinson’s done at Aarhus with protein-destroying technology from Draupnir. Researchers hope to design therapies that can grab onto the alpha-synuclein protein and drag it to lysosomes, compartments that act as cellular garbage disposals to destroy molecular waste.

“Our therapy would be the first in the world to specifically remove and prevent the spread of a toxic protein build-up in the brain that is proven to sustain disease progression,” said Glerup.

Scientists hope to have testing-ready candidates by 2029

The project’s goal is to develop both biologics — complex molecules such as antibodies produced in living cells and usually given by injection — and small-molecule therapies that can be taken by mouth. Researchers hope to have preclinically validated candidates ready for further testing by 2029.

“We know that aggregation of [alpha]-syn is central to the progression of Parkinson’s disease,” said Daniel Otzen, PhD, Aarhus professor and DESYNA project partner. “So, by finding new ways to target this process, we aim to go beyond managing symptoms and instead change the course of the disease itself. This approach has the potential to open the door to entirely new treatments and, importantly, to give people living with Parkinson’s disease, and their families, real hope for the future.”

1st few participants see notable relief after receiving Oryon's treatment

Written by Marisa Wexler, MS | March 30, 2026

• Oryon's cell therapy for Parkinson's aims to replace lost brain cells.
• Early trial shows significant easing of motor symptoms and restored nerve function.
• Therapy uses patient blood cells to create new neurons.

The first few participants in a clinical trial have reported notable easing of motor symptoms following treatment with Oryon Cell Therapies’  Parkinson’s disease therapy, according to data released by the company.

Data also indicate that Oryon’s therapy, which aims to replace lost brain cells with new nerve cells engineered from a patient’s own blood cells, is safe and effectively restores lost nerve function, according to a company press release.

Penelope Hallett, PhD, sponsor of the trial and co-director of Mass General Brigham’s Neuroregeneration Research Institute, presented the data at the AD/PD 2026 International Conference on Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s Diseases and Related Neurological Disorders, held March 17-21 in Copenhagen.

Parkinson’s is caused by the death and degeneration of brain cells called dopaminergic neurons, specialized nerve cells that produce dopamine, a signaling molecule key to controlling movement. The loss of dopaminergic neurons leads to disruptions in dopamine signaling, ultimately giving rise to Parkinson’s symptoms.

Oryon’s approach involves collecting blood cells from patients, then growing them into induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs), lab-generated cells that can develop into other cell types. The iPSCs then undergo a series of proprietary biological manipulations to grow into dopaminergic neurons, which can be implanted into the brain to replace lost cells and restore dopamine signaling.

No serious safety issues seen so far in trial

In the ongoing clinical trial (NCT06422208), six participants have so far received this cell therapy implanted into one side of the putamen, a brain region that usually houses many dopaminergic neurons and is heavily affected in Parkinson’s. Oryon said the therapy has so far been tolerated well, and no serious safety issues have been reported.

Five study participants have undergone post-transplant assessments. Data generally indicated improvements in motor function. Motor scores on the Unified Parkinson’s Disease Rating Scale (UPDRS), assessed when patients were off other Parkinson’s medications, decreased (improved) by approximately 29%–62% from the start of the study to assessments six to 18 months after treatment.

“Improvements were observed in core Parkinson’s motor symptoms, including bradykinesia [slowness], rigidity, and gait,” Oryon said. Some patients showed improvements in other functional measures as well, and some were able to reduce their daily dose of levodopa (a standard treatment for Parkinson’s that can help ease symptoms but can also cause uncontrolled movements, or dyskinesia, as a side effect), according to the company.

Imaging data from the patients suggested an increase in dopamine activity in the treated side of the putamen, whereas the untreated side tended to show a decrease in dopamine signaling consistent with the typical progression of Parkinson’s.

“These results provide encouraging evidence that replacing dopaminergic neurons may restore biological function in Parkinson’s disease,” Hallett said. “The alignment of clinical improvements, imaging evidence of dopaminergic activity, and reduced medication use suggests that the implanted neurons are integrating into the brain’s circuitry and helping restore function lost to the disease.”

The trial, which is enrolling by invitation at a site in Boston, will soon begin testing in a new group of patients who will receive the experimental cell therapy into both sides of the putamen.

I'm no longer downplaying this symptom after a near-disaster in the kitchen

Written by Christine Scheer | March 27, 2026

Many years ago, I wrote a food column for our local newspaper. I called it “Cooking with the Seasons” and told people how to grow and cook with food from their gardens.

One year, my husband, John, said, “We should try tapping a few maple trees and making our own maple syrup, and you can write about it!” Our daughters were quite young then, about 6 and 8 years old, so they were very enthusiastic. We bought used buckets and spiles and tapped five of our maple trees.

Do you know the process of making maple syrup? There is a reason why most people aren’t making it in their home kitchens. You need 40 liters of sap to make 1 liter of syrup. Picture this: a big pot boiling on your kitchen stove for days on end (you’d be surprised how much sap five trees yield). Your kitchen is a hot, steamy, and sticky zone. We don’t have wallpaper on our walls, but I’ve heard stories of people’s wallpaper peeling off. Yes, it is that steamy.

Anyway, we started doing this many years ago, and still do it every year. It’s a tradition that yields a lot of sweet joy, so it’s hard to stop. What I’m trying to say is that I have a love-hate relationship with maple syrup season.

Parkinson’s brings complications

As most of my regular readers know, I no longer have a sense of smell due to Parkinson’s disease. Every once in a while, I’ll get a breakthrough scent, but mostly, when I sniff the air, I get nothing.

This year isn’t working out as well as other years for maple syrup. You need warm days but cold nights for the sap to flow, and we’ve had either too-cold days or too-warm nights. The sap we’ve gathered has been prized, but so far, we’ve only made about 12 cups of hard-won syrup.

Medically reviewed by Nancy Hammond, M.D. - Written by Hope Gillette on January 20, 2026

Key takeaways

• Oral medications are often the first treatment for Parkinson’s disease. They work by increasing dopamine levels or mimicking dopamine’s effects, but symptom control may change over time.
• Infusion therapies deliver medication continuously, which can reduce symptom fluctuations and offer more consistent control, especially in later stages of Parkinson’s.
• Choosing a treatment depends on symptoms, disease progression, treatment response, daily routines, and personal preferences. Talking through all options with your healthcare team can help guide the decision.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive condition that affects how the brain controls movement. It develops when changes in the brain disrupt the nerve cells that help coordinate motion.

As the condition progresses, damage to these nerve cells can lead to symptoms such as tremors, muscle stiffness, slowed movement, and changes in balance or coordination. Symptoms often evolve over time, which can affect how well different treatments work.

Medications play a central role in managing Parkinson’s symptoms. These treatments may be taken by mouth or delivered via infusion. The best option depends on a person’s symptoms, how their body responds to treatment, and how treatment fits into their daily life.

Oral medications for Parkinson’s disease

Oral medications are those you take by mouth. In Parkinson’s disease, many oral medications fall under what’s known as “dopaminergic therapy,” which is often the first treatment approach. These medications work by replacing dopamine or mimicking its effects in the brain.

Parkinson’s disease affects cells that produce dopamine, a chemical that helps coordinate movement. When dopamine levels drop, the brain has a harder time sending clear signals to the muscles. This can lead to symptoms such as stiffness, slowed movement, tremors, or difficulty with coordination.

While dopaminergic therapy is a mainstay of Parkinson’s treatment, not all oral medications work the same way.

Some target other brain chemicals (neurotransmitters) involved in movement or non-motor symptoms, offering additional options when dopamine-based treatments alone aren’t enough.