Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a serious illness that affects millions of people around the world. It happens when certain brain cells slowly stop working and die.
Over time, this leads to problems with movement, balance, and thinking. In some cases, people with Parkinson’s also develop memory loss or dementia. Among brain diseases linked to aging, Parkinson’s is the second most common—right after Alzheimer’s.
For many years, scientists have been trying to figure out exactly what causes Parkinson’s. That has made it hard to create treatments that work well. But now, a group of scientists from the University of Copenhagen may have made a big step forward.
They discovered a problem in a system inside our cells that’s supposed to take care of tiny structures called mitochondria. Mitochondria are like small power plants. They make the energy that cells need to stay alive and do their jobs.
But when this system doesn’t work properly, damaged mitochondria start to build up. This causes the cell to run low on energy and allows harmful proteins to collect. Eventually, this can kill the brain cells that control movement and other functions.
One surprising part of the study is how the body’s immune system is also involved. Immune genes—normally used to protect us from viruses—are actually important for keeping mitochondria working well in nerve cells.
If these immune genes don’t work as they should, the mitochondria can’t make enough energy. This might be one of the reasons why Parkinson’s Disease develops.
The researchers also found a link between this process and how the body responds to infections like COVID-19. They learned that certain gene mutations can make COVID-19 symptoms worse, especially when these genes are connected to the mitochondria and immune system.
This means there could be a deeper connection between how our bodies fight viruses and how brain diseases like Parkinson’s begin.
The study was led by Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas. Her team looked closely at how genes behave in the brains of people with Parkinson’s, comparing them with those in healthy brains.
They noticed that the brains affected by Parkinson’s had more damaged mitochondria and more harmful proteins. One protein in particular, called PIAS2, showed up more often in people with Parkinson’s. This could make it a useful marker for identifying the disease early.
Even more importantly, this protein and the pathway it’s part of could become a target for new treatments. If doctors can find a way to fix this system or remove the damaged mitochondria before they cause harm, they might be able to slow down or even stop the disease. It might also help prevent the memory loss and dementia that often come later in the illness.
The researchers hope to study this pathway in different types of Parkinson’s to learn more. This could lead to even better ways to treat or prevent the disease.
This study, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, gives new hope to people living with Parkinson’s and their families. It shows how the brain, the immune system, and energy production are all linked—and how keeping this balance is key to staying healthy. As scientists learn more, we may be getting closer to real solutions that can change lives.
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.
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.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
