Recent studies published in npj Parkinson’s Disease detail progressive nigral volume loss across prodromal to moderate disease phases using advanced MRI techniques, pinpointing potential early biomarkers. Concurrently, a study demonstrated that parkin-deficient human iPSC-derived neurons accumulate seeding-competent α-synuclein aggregates, linking familial PD genetics to pathogenic protein propagation. Together, these insights deepen understanding of Parkinson’s structural and molecular pathogenesis, informing future diagnostic and therapeutic strategies targeting neurodegeneration.