Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most common brain disease that happens as we age. It’s also the most common disease that affects how we move.
But what causes it? Well, that’s mostly a mystery.
A Blockage That Harms Brain Cells
A group of scientists from the University of Copenhagen recently made an interesting discovery.
They found out that the most common type of Parkinson’s, known as sporadic PD, is caused by a blockage. This blockage stops a pathway that controls the cell’s powerhouse, called the mitochondria.
Just like us, cells take in what they need and get rid of the rest. If this blockage happens, the mitochondria can’t be cleaned up after they’ve been damaged.
The Consequences of the Blockage
The scientists say that this blockage causes damaged mitochondria to build up. At the same time, the cells can’t make enough energy.
This slowly kills off neurons, which are special types of brain cells. This is why Parkinson’s Disease symptoms start to show and why it can lead to dementia.
The blockage is caused by a mix-up in the immune genes. These genes are usually important for fighting against viruses. But now, the researchers have shown that these genes also control the energy supply of nerve cells.
These pathways are very important for how the brain works. They are also linked to how our body recognizes microbes and viruses.
For example, they play a big role in fighting COVID-19. A change in the related gene has been linked to severe outcomes after catching COVID-19.
Studying the Genes in Parkinson’s Disease
In the study, the scientists analyzed data from four different sources. This data came from studies on neurons from brains with Parkinson’s Disease. They looked at what kind of genes these neurons expressed.
They then checked which gene patterns were disturbed in Parkinson’s Disease patients, particularly those who had also developed dementia.
They discovered that the buildup of damaged mitochondria led to an increase in other harmful proteins.
When comparing these patients to healthy people of the same age without Parkinson’s Disease, they found that a protein called PIAS2 was much more common in the neurons of the patients.
Future Research and Hope
The scientists believe that this pathway could also play a role in other types of Parkinson’s Disease.
They hope their study will inspire more research to undo the blockage. This could help to fight Parkinson’s Disease and prevent dementia.
To learn more about Parkinson’s disease, you might want to read studies about how vitamins E and D could help people with Parkinson’s.
For more information about brain health, check out recent studies about new ways to treat Parkinson’s disease and how certain foods could help those with the disease.
The team behind this insightful study was led by Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas. Their findings were published in a journal called Molecular Psychiatry.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
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