Scientists at the Van Andel Institute have made a significant breakthrough in understanding how the brain adapts to damage in circuits related to movement, cognition, and sensory perception.
Such breakdowns are known contributors to Parkinson’s disease. The researchers believe their findings could pave the way for improved treatments for Parkinson’s that could repair or bypass these damaged circuits.
Focus on Thalamus and Cortex
Published in Science Advances, the study zeroes in on two critical areas of the brain: the thalamus and the cerebral cortex.
These regions support movement and sensory perception but have not been extensively studied in the context of Parkinson’s disease.
Another Path Forward
“Our work highlights the importance of brain circuits in Parkinson’s and offers another path forward for new treatment strategies,” says Hong-yuan Chu, Ph.D., the senior author of the study.
Chu and the team found that agents that suppress disease-related signals from the basal ganglia—another region of the brain affected by Parkinson’s—could repair certain broken circuits in the thalamus and cortex.
Implications for Current Treatments
The research also indicates that two current treatments for Parkinson’s disease, dopaminergic medications and deep brain stimulation, may affect these same circuits.
Both treatments are effective in relieving symptoms but do not halt the progression of the disease, and their effectiveness can differ from person to person.
Towards Better Understanding and Treatment
According to Chu, “The cortex has long been considered a potential target for noninvasive treatment but research to date has been stymied by a limited understanding of what goes wrong in cortical circuits.”
This study helps to fill that knowledge gap and lays the groundwork for the development of new treatment strategies.
What Does This Mean for Patients?
While the findings are promising, they’re also preliminary.
However, this research adds another layer of understanding to Parkinson’s disease, offering hope that future treatments may be more effective in managing symptoms and possibly even repairing damaged circuits in the brain.
For patients and families dealing with Parkinson’s, any progress is a step in the right direction, and this research certainly points the way for future therapies.
Patients should consult their healthcare provider for tailored advice and to understand how these findings could potentially influence current or future treatment plans.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin E may help prevent Parkinson’s, and Vitamin D could benefit people with Parkinson’s.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies about new ways to treat Parkinson’s disease, and results showing flavonoid-rich foods could improve survival in Parkinson’s disease.
The study was published in Science Advances.
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