Sharing the Latest Insights at the 2024 Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference

The 16th annual Parkinson’s Disease Therapeutics Conference (PDTC), hosted by The Michael J. Fox Foundation on October 17, 2024, in New York City, gathered over 300 experts from more than 170 institutions to discuss advancements in Parkinson's disease (PD) treatment. Key topics included emerging therapies, disease staging, clinical trial innovation, and patient-focused research. Highlights from the conference: LRRK2 Research: Angela Cacace, PhD, presented a drug targeting LRRK2 overactivity to improve cellular waste disposal and reduce inflammation. Autophagy Activation: Martin Gill, PhD, discussed a therapy aimed at TRPML1 to enhance brain cell waste clearance, potentially slowing PD progression. Neuroimaging for PD: Daniel Huddleston, MD, shared work on cost-effective MRI techniques to track PD progression. Non-Invasive Biomarker Detection: Roland Heym, PhD, explored using skin samples for biomarker testing as an alternative to spinal taps. The conference emphasized patient-centered research, featuring insights from patients and experts on creating therapies that address real-world needs. Additionally, the Neuronal alpha-Synuclein Disease Integrated Staging System (NSD-ISS) was introduced to enhance collaboration across neurodegenerative disease research. PDTC serves as a platform for sharing groundbreaking findings and fostering collaborations that drive progress toward effective PD treatments and, ultimately, a cure.