Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia, often called LBD, are serious conditions that affect the brain. Millions of people around the world live with these diseases.
They can cause shaking, stiffness, slow movement, and problems with balance. As the diseases progress, many people also develop memory problems, confusion, and changes in thinking.
These conditions can make daily life very difficult, not only for patients but also for their families. For many years, scientists have been trying to understand what causes these diseases and how to treat them more effectively. Now, researchers from Scripps Research have made an important discovery that may help slow down how these diseases develop.
At the center of both Parkinson’s disease and LBD is a protein called alpha-synuclein. Proteins are small building blocks inside our cells that help the body function properly. In a healthy brain, the body has a system to remove old or damaged proteins. This keeps the cells clean and working well.
However, in people with these brain diseases, alpha-synuclein does not get removed properly. Instead, it starts to build up inside brain cells. Over time, these proteins stick together and form clumps. These clumps can damage brain cells and stop them from working normally.
Even worse, these harmful clumps can spread from one brain cell to another. This is one reason why the disease gets worse over time and affects more parts of the brain.
The body has a natural cleanup system to deal with unwanted proteins. One important part of this system is a protein called p62. You can think of p62 as a helper that finds damaged or extra proteins and sends them away to be broken down and removed.
But the researchers discovered that in Parkinson’s disease and LBD, this helper protein does not work as it should. A process called S-nitrosylation changes the structure of p62. This process happens when there are high levels of certain nitrogen-based molecules in the brain, including nitric oxide.
When p62 is changed in this way, it cannot do its job properly. As a result, the body’s cleanup system becomes less effective. This allows alpha-synuclein to build up even more and form more clumps. Over time, this leads to greater damage in the brain.
This discovery is important because it shows a new way that these diseases develop. It also suggests a new possible target for treatment. If scientists can find a way to protect p62 and stop it from being changed by these nitrogen molecules, they may be able to improve the brain’s ability to clear away harmful proteins.
If this approach works, it could slow down the buildup of alpha-synuclein. This could help slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia. In the future, it may even help stop the diseases from getting worse.
The researchers are also exploring whether certain vitamins could play a role in protecting the brain. Vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin D are already known to support brain health. Scientists are now studying whether these vitamins can help keep p62 working properly and reduce damage in brain cells.
Although this research is still in its early stages, it offers new hope. Understanding how these diseases develop at a deeper level is a key step toward finding better treatments. Each new discovery helps scientists move closer to ways of slowing, managing, or even preventing these conditions.
For now, there is still no cure for Parkinson’s disease or Lewy Body Dementia. However, studies like this show that progress is being made. With continued research, there is hope that new treatments will one day improve the lives of millions of people affected by these conditions.
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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