Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common brain disorders in older adults. It slowly damages the nervous system and can cause shaking, muscle stiffness, slow movement, and problems with balance.
As the disease progresses, many people also develop memory loss and dementia. Scientists have spent many years trying to understand why brain cells die in Parkinson’s disease.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen has uncovered an important clue. The findings were published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
The researchers discovered that a key problem in Parkinson’s disease is a blockage in the system that controls mitochondria.
Mitochondria are tiny structures inside almost every cell. They produce the energy that cells need to stay alive and perform their normal jobs.
In healthy cells, old or damaged mitochondria are removed and replaced with healthy ones. This natural cleaning process keeps cells working properly. When the system stops working, damaged mitochondria build up and produce less energy.
The new study found that this cleanup process becomes blocked in people with Parkinson’s disease. As damaged mitochondria collect inside brain cells, the cells gradually lose the energy they need to survive.
Over time, many of these brain cells die, leading to the movement problems that are typical of Parkinson’s disease. The same process may also contribute to memory problems and dementia.
One of the most surprising findings was that the immune system appears to play an important role. The researchers found that genes normally involved in protecting the body from viruses are also linked to the system that keeps mitochondria healthy.
In Parkinson’s disease, these immune-related genes seem to stop working properly and may end up harming brain cells instead of protecting them.
The team examined data from several research projects and studied genes in brain cells taken from people with Parkinson’s disease. They found unusually high levels of a protein called PIAS2. This protein may interfere with the normal cleanup of damaged mitochondria, making it a possible target for future treatments.
If scientists can develop medicines that restore this cleanup system or block the harmful effects of PIAS2, they may be able to slow or even stop the disease from getting worse. Such treatments could also reduce the risk of dementia in people with Parkinson’s disease. The researchers believe the same process may also be involved in inherited forms of the disease.
Although more research is needed before these findings lead to new medicines, the discovery is an important step forward.
It gives scientists a better understanding of what happens inside brain cells during Parkinson’s disease and opens new possibilities for treatments that target the disease itself instead of only easing its symptoms.
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 health information, please see recent studies about how wheat gluten might be influencing our brain health, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health..
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