The Harvard Gazette

Parkinson’s disease

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Emily Balskus

Emily Balskus wins $1M Waterman Award

Recognized for harnessing chemistry to transform the study of microbial communities

Science|

DateAugust 5, 2020July 29, 2020

Spoon with pomogranate seeds.

The ‘right’ diet

Discovery of entirely new class of enzymes could one day lead to bespoke diets, therapeutics

Science|

DateFebruary 18, 2020February 18, 2020

Neurons on device

Up close and personal with neuronal networks

Science|

DateSeptember 24, 2019September 25, 2019

raditional-neural-electrodes-versus-mesh-electronics

The future of mind control

How neuron-like implants can offer a better way to treat brain disorders, control prosthetics, or even enhance cognitive abilities

Science|

DateSeptember 20, 2019

Professor looks over the shoulder of grad student working in the lab

Gut microbes eat our medication

How one species of bacteria consumes the primary treatment for Parkinson’s disease could reveal more about how the microbiome impacts our health

Health|

DateJune 19, 2019July 17, 2019

Panelists at the first “Horizons in Regenerative Medicine” series discussed how advances in stem cell research may soon replace lab mice with petri dishes, slow the effects of aging, and relegate insulin injections to the history books.

Medical hope on horizon

Stem cell science aids therapies for diabetes, ALS, other diseases, HUBweek panelists say

Health|

DateOctober 6, 2016March 7, 2019

A model of the compound MIND4 docking with SIRT2, inhibiting the enzyme from regulating production of myelin and glucose.

Giving Huntington’s disease the one-two punch

Mass. General-led study identifies molecular compound with two neuroprotective activities

Health|

DateJuly 14, 2016March 4, 2019

“There’s no question, anecdotally at least, that music has a very stimulating effect on physical activity,” said Daniel Tarsy, professor of neurology at Harvard Medical School. “And I think that applies to dance, as well.”

Strength in movement

Researchers see potential role for dance in treating neurodegenerative disorders

Health|

DateJanuary 5, 2016

Harvard scientists have for years put coffee under the microscope. Last year, researchers announced they had discovered six new human genes related to coffee and reconfirmed the existence of two others. The long-running Nurses’ Health Study has found that coffee protects against type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Researchers are continuing to follow up on 2001 findings that it protects against Parkinson’s disease.

How coffee loves us back

Health benefits a recurring theme in Harvard research

Health|

DateSeptember 28, 2015February 13, 2018

Ole Isacson and colleagues reported that dopamine-producing neurons (pictured) derived from the skin cells of primates survived for more than two years after implantation into one of the animals. Isacson noted that the animal was “able to move as fast around its home cage” as an one without Parkinson’s, and had normal agility, though individual motions were still slowed by the disease.

Possible progress against Parkinson’s

Implanted stem cells reduced symptoms of disease during experiment, researchers say

Health|

DateMarch 3, 2015July 26, 2019

The Harvard Stem Cell Institute began with a group of about two dozen principal investigators in Harvard’s Schools and affiliated hospitals as a pragmatic solution to a political and funding problem and now is a world leader in the exploding field of stem cell biology.

A decade of breakthroughs

Harvard Stem Cell Institute, initially just an idea, quickly became a generator of scientific discoveries

Health|

DateMay 29, 2014July 9, 2019

A research team led by Naoshige Uchida, associate professor of molecular and cellular biology, found that rats averaged how much benefit they received over as many as five trials. When their brains were impaired in one region, however, the rats based their actions solely on the prior trial. “This is a new framework to think about decision-making,” Uchida said.

The motivation to move

Study finds rats calculate ‘average’ of reward across several tests

Health|

DateApril 18, 2013July 22, 2019

The Harvard lab of Bauer Fellow Peter Turnbaugh (above) is working to identify the mysterious microbes living in our intestines, and to better understand how the bacteria that live within us affect the drugs we take and the exotic foods we eat, collectively called xenobiotics. “There are very few examples where we know the link between gut microbes and xenobiotics — that’s one thing I’d like to change,” Turnbaugh said.

Life partner

Microbes, at work inside of us, are of rising interest to researchers for role in health, diet

Health|

DateJune 26, 2012July 11, 2019

Direct inputs to dopamine neurons: Green dots represent neurons providing inputs to dopamine neurons in the ventral tegmental area (VTA), while red dots represent neurons providing inputs to SNc dopamine neurons.

Tracing the brain’s connections

Using rabies virus, researchers are able to track neural pathways

Health|

DateJune 14, 2012July 22, 2019

Lighting up Parkinson’s disease research

How jellyfish could potentially play a role in treatment

Health|

DateApril 3, 2009December 15, 2017

Elevated urate levels may slow progression of Parkinson’s disease

Findings may lead to new treatment trials

Health|

DateApril 17, 2008

Reprogrammed adult skin cells treat Parkinson’s disease in animal model

Study raises prospect of eventual human treatment

Health|

DateApril 10, 2008

Fetal-cell transplants reverse Parkinson’s in two patients

Health|

DateJune 10, 2005

Anti-inflammatory drugs may reduce Parkinson’s disease risk

Health|

DateAugust 18, 2003

Enzyme linked to pathology of Parkinson’s disease appears two-faced

Protein's reckless side may lead to deadly pileups in cell

Health|

DateNovember 8, 2002

Dopamine may play dual role in Parkinson’s disease

Researchers close in on answer to longstanding mystery

Health|

DateNovember 9, 2001

Caffeine linked to protection from Parkinson’s disease

Caffeine from a variety of sources, not just coffee, shows effect

Health|

DateMay 3, 2001