A groundbreaking study by the University of Copenhagen has revealed a major breakthrough in understanding the root cause of the most common form of Parkinson’s Disease (PD), a neurological condition that affects millions of people around the world.
This discovery may also help explain why some patients with PD go on to develop dementia.
Parkinson’s Disease causes the gradual death of nerve cells in the brain, leading to symptoms like tremors, muscle stiffness, and slow movement. One of the big mysteries has been understanding why this happens. Now, researchers believe they’ve found an answer: it all comes down to a blockage in how the brain’s cells manage their energy.
At the center of this process are the mitochondria—tiny parts inside cells that act like power plants, giving cells the energy they need to function. In people with Parkinson’s, a critical pathway that normally clears out damaged mitochondria becomes blocked.
As a result, these damaged mitochondria build up inside the cells. This buildup reduces the cell’s energy supply and eventually causes the nerve cells to die. This loss of energy over time is what leads to the symptoms of Parkinson’s and, in some cases, to dementia.
The researchers found that this blockage is caused by certain immune genes that are supposed to help the body fight infections like viruses. These genes, however, appear to also play an unexpected role in maintaining the health of brain cells. When these genes become disrupted, the pathway for clearing out damaged mitochondria fails.
Interestingly, some of these same genes are also involved in how the body responds to viruses like COVID-19. In fact, mutations in these genes have been linked to worse outcomes in COVID-19 patients. This suggests that the immune system and the brain’s energy systems are more connected than we once thought.
The researchers examined data from multiple studies and focused on the gene activity in neurons from Parkinson’s patients, especially those who had also developed dementia.
They discovered that a protein called PIAS2 was highly active in these neurons. This protein could offer a new clue for scientists trying to understand—and eventually treat—Parkinson’s Disease.
This study is a huge step forward. It shows a clear path for future treatments aimed at unblocking the damaged pathway and restoring the brain’s ability to remove faulty mitochondria. If scientists can fix this problem, it could help slow down or even prevent the progression of Parkinson’s and reduce the risk of dementia in patients.
The research team believes that more studies are needed to see if the same mitochondrial issue occurs in other inherited forms of Parkinson’s Disease. But this finding opens the door to a whole new way of thinking about how we treat and understand this devastating disease.
The full study was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry and brings new hope for millions of patients and families affected by Parkinson’s Disease.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about Parkinson’s gene variant is found predominantly in people of African ancestry and research shows a dangerous cause of Parkinson’s disease.
For more about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that exercise hormone may help stop Parkinson’s symptoms and scientists make new breakthrough in Parkinson’s disease treatment.
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