The International Society for Stem Cell Research (ISSCR) today announced the launch of Stem Cell Medicine: Parkinson’s Disease, a new continuing education course designed to equip clinicians with an evidence-based understanding of emerging stem cell therapies for Parkinson’s disease (PD).

Building on the success of the Society’s inaugural course, Stem Cell Medicine: From Scientific Research to Patient Care, this disease-focused program provides physicians and other healthcare professionals with deeper insight into how advances in stem cell science are moving toward clinical application in one of the most intensively studied neurological disorders.

Salk researchers create epigenetic atlas of cell type-specific changes in the aging mouse brain, representing eight different brain regions and 36 different cell types to show clear epigenetic differences associated with different ages. The new resource—available publicly on Amazon Web services—can be used to unravel age-related contributions to neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.

Scientists at Nagoya University in Japan have found two gut bacteria working together that contribute to chronic constipation. The duo, Akkermansia muciniphila and Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, destroy the intestinal mucus coating essential for keeping the colon lubricated and feces hydrated. Their excess degradation leaves patients with dry, immobile stool. This discovery, published in Gut Microbes, finally explains why standard treatments often fail for millions of people with chronic constipation. Notably, the study shows that Parkinson's disease patients, who suffer from constipation decades before developing tremors, have higher levels of these mucus-degrading bacteria. While constipation in Parkinson’s disease has traditionally been attributed to nerve degradation, these findings suggest that bacterial activity also plays a crucial role in the development of their symptoms. 

A novel method to manipulate the inner structure of cells connects several scientific fields and could represent a significant step in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.