Parkinson’s Disease is a serious illness that affects millions of people worldwide. It is a progressive condition, meaning it gets worse over time.
People with Parkinson’s often struggle with movement, shaking, stiffness, and slow reactions.
As the disease progresses, it can also affect thinking, memory, and even lead to dementia. After Alzheimer’s, it is the second most common brain disease linked to aging.
For many years, scientists have tried to understand what causes Parkinson’s, but the answer has remained unclear. Without a clear cause, developing effective treatments has been difficult. But now, a team of researchers from the University of Copenhagen has made a breakthrough that could bring new hope.
The researchers discovered that a key problem in Parkinson’s involves a failure in how cells manage their energy. Our cells contain tiny energy factories called mitochondria. These mitochondria give cells the power they need to function.
In people with Parkinson’s, the researchers found that something goes wrong in the process that removes damaged mitochondria. When this process breaks down, damaged mitochondria pile up, and cells can’t get the energy they need. This lack of energy, combined with the buildup of harmful waste products, leads to brain cell damage and death.
A surprising part of this discovery is the role of immune genes—genes that are usually known for fighting viruses and infections. These genes, it turns out, also help keep mitochondria working well in brain cells.
If these immune-related genes aren’t working properly, the mitochondria can’t produce enough energy, and brain cells start to die. This shows a strong connection between the immune system and the health of our brain cells.
Even more interesting, the researchers found that the same genetic issues that cause problems in Parkinson’s might also make it harder for the body to fight infections like COVID-19. This means that the health of our brain cells may be linked to how well our immune system responds to certain viruses.
The team, led by Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas, studied brain samples from people with and without Parkinson’s. They found that people with Parkinson’s had more damaged mitochondria and more of a toxic protein called PIAS2 in their brains. PIAS2 might be useful in the future as a marker to help doctors diagnose Parkinson’s earlier.
This new information is important because it doesn’t just explain what might be causing Parkinson’s—it also shows a new path for treatment.
If scientists can figure out how to fix the pathway that clears out damaged mitochondria, they may be able to slow down or even stop the disease from getting worse. It might also help prevent dementia, which many people with Parkinson’s develop over time.
The findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry and are already creating excitement in the scientific world. Researchers hope that by continuing to study this pathway, they can develop new medicines that help protect brain cells and improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.
This discovery is a big step forward in understanding a complex disease. It also reminds us how closely connected everything in our body is—from how we make energy to how we fight off infections. With more research and continued effort, there is real hope that Parkinson’s can one day be managed more effectively—or even prevented altogether.
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.
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