Parkinson’s Disease is one of the most common brain disorders in older adults. It causes shaking, stiffness, and problems with balance and movement.
In many cases, it also leads to dementia. For years, scientists have been trying to understand what causes this condition.
Now, a new study from the University of Copenhagen has made an exciting discovery that may change how we think about Parkinson’s Disease.
Researchers have found that a major cause of Parkinson’s Disease is a blockage in the system that controls mitochondria. Mitochondria are like tiny power stations inside our cells. They give cells the energy they need to work properly. In healthy cells, old or damaged mitochondria are cleared away to keep things running smoothly.
But in people with Parkinson’s, this system gets blocked. As a result, broken mitochondria build up inside brain cells, which lowers the cells’ energy and causes them to die. This slow loss of brain cells leads to the symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease, and in some cases, to memory problems and dementia.
What’s surprising is what causes this blockage. It’s not just aging or damage—it’s linked to the immune system. The same genes that help the brain fight off viruses like COVID-19 are also involved in keeping the mitochondria system working.
In Parkinson’s Disease, these immune genes don’t work as they should. They end up hurting the cells instead of helping them. This shows that the immune system plays a bigger role in brain health than we thought.
The scientists studied data from different research projects and looked closely at the genes in brain cells from people with Parkinson’s. They found that one particular protein, called PIAS2, was present in high amounts in the brain cells of people with Parkinson’s.
This protein may be part of the reason why the mitochondria system gets blocked. By focusing on this protein, researchers may find new ways to treat or even prevent Parkinson’s.
This discovery gives new hope for fighting this disease. If scientists can find a way to fix or bypass the blockage in the mitochondria system, they may be able to stop the disease from getting worse.
It may also help prevent the development of dementia in people with Parkinson’s. The researchers believe this same problem may exist in other types of Parkinson’s, too, especially those passed down in families.
The study was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry and is already getting attention around the world. It’s a big step forward in understanding a disease that affects millions of people. With this new knowledge, scientists are now closer than ever to creating treatments that could make a real difference in people’s lives.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies about how to improve walking in people with Parkinson’s disease and Scientists find causes of Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia.
For more about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies These common drugs may increase risk of Parkinson’s disease and Researchers find an important cause of Parkinson’s disease.
Copyright © 2025 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
