Parkinson’s Disease is a brain disorder that affects millions of people around the world. It slowly damages certain brain cells, making it hard for people to move normally, think clearly, and in some cases, even remember things. This condition mostly affects older adults and is the second most common brain disease caused by aging, after Alzheimer’s disease.
Scientists have been studying Parkinson’s for many years, but they still don’t fully understand why it happens. Without knowing the exact cause, it has been very difficult to create treatments that work well. However, a new study from the University of Copenhagen may help change that.
A team of researchers led by Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas has discovered a key problem that might lead to Parkinson’s. They focused on tiny parts of our cells called mitochondria.
These mitochondria act like little power plants — they produce the energy that cells need to function. When mitochondria get damaged, cells are supposed to get rid of them. But in people with Parkinson’s, this process doesn’t work properly.
Because damaged mitochondria are not removed, cells begin to lose energy. On top of that, harmful proteins start to build up in the brain. Over time, these problems can cause brain cells to die. This is likely one of the reasons why people with Parkinson’s experience movement problems, memory loss, and other symptoms.
One of the most surprising parts of the study is that genes that are part of our immune system — the part of our body that fights off viruses and bacteria — also play a big role in this process. Normally, these immune genes protect us when we get sick.
But the researchers found that they also help keep mitochondria healthy in nerve cells. When these genes don’t work properly, the mitochondria can’t make enough energy, which may lead to Parkinson’s.
The scientists also found a link between Parkinson’s and how the body responds to infections like COVID-19. They found that a change (mutation) in one of these immune-related genes can make COVID-19 symptoms worse. This shows that the health of our brain cells and our immune system are closely connected.
The study also looked at brain tissue from people who had Parkinson’s and compared it to those who did not. They found higher levels of a protein called PIAS2 in the brains of people with Parkinson’s. This protein might be a sign of the disease and could be used in the future to help doctors diagnose it earlier.
Even more importantly, targeting the biological pathway that includes this protein could help stop Parkinson’s from getting worse. It might even help prevent the memory and thinking problems that often come with the disease. This gives scientists a new direction for creating treatments.
The researchers believe this pathway may also be involved in other forms of Parkinson’s, not just the kind they studied. This means the discovery could help even more people in the future.
Their findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry. Although more research is needed, this study gives hope that we may one day be able to stop or prevent Parkinson’s before it causes serious damage.
This research also shows how different systems in our body are connected — how the immune system, energy production, and brain health all work together. When one part of this balance goes wrong, it can lead to serious health problems like Parkinson’s. But understanding these links brings us one step closer to finding better ways to treat or even prevent the disease.
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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