Spring / Summer 2026 | Research 13
Medicare Opts to Cover Vyalev
Vyalev, the first U. S.-approved underthe-skin continuous infusion therapy for PD, is now covered by Medicare— a move that increases access to this new drug delivery option. For people with advancing Parkinson’ s, 24-hour delivery of levodopa / carbidopa can help smooth out“ off” times and provide longer periods when symptoms are controlled.
Those interested in Vyalev should talk with their doctor about whether the therapy is appropriate for them and how Medicare coverage would apply. For those with commercial plans, it is important to determine upfront what is covered and whether preapproval is needed, as Vyalev coverage varies.
Pipeline for Drugs Targeting GBA1 Shows Promise
Recent trial findings showed for the first time that a drug targeting the GBA1 gene restored the beneficial activity of a protein called glucocerebrosidase( GCase) and improved or stabilized motor symptoms in people with PD.
While early-stage, the encouraging findings support the continued development of GCase-targeted drugs as disease-modifying therapies to slow the worsening of PD.
About 5 to 10 percent of people living with Parkinson’ s have mutations in the GBA1 gene that cause GCase to malfunction, leading to the accumulation of certain lipids and alpha-synuclein, which is toxic to dopamine neurons.
What Links Sleep and Brain Diseases?
MJFF has partnered with the Alzheimer’ s Association, CurePSP and Shake It Up Australia Foundation to fund research investigating the still-mysterious role of sleep as both a contributor to and consequence of neuron loss in neurodegenerative disease.
The five funded projects include studies on sleep patterns to capture clues about the development of Alzheimer’ s and Parkinson’ s, sleep treatments to learn how they affect cognition and disease progression, and sleep apnea to determine how it contributes to brain aging and neurodegeneration. Findings could guide sleep interventions that reduce symptoms and slow worsening disease.