Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is one of the most common brain disorders linked to aging, affecting movement and often leading to dementia. While scientists have studied the disease for years, the exact cause remains unclear.
However, a new study from the University of Copenhagen has found that a key reason for the disease may be a blockage in a pathway that helps nerve cells produce energy.
Every cell in the body needs energy to function, and this energy is produced by tiny structures inside cells called mitochondria. Normally, damaged mitochondria are removed and replaced with healthy ones, keeping the cells working properly. But in people with Parkinson’s, this cleanup process is blocked.
As a result, damaged mitochondria build up inside brain cells, preventing them from making enough energy. Over time, this leads to the death of nerve cells, causing the movement problems and cognitive decline seen in Parkinson’s disease.
The study found that this blockage happens due to problems with immune system genes. These genes usually help the body fight infections, but researchers discovered they also play a crucial role in keeping brain cells energized. When these genes do not work correctly, they disrupt the energy supply in nerve cells, leading to cell death.
The researchers also noted that these pathways are involved in recognizing and fighting viruses, including COVID-19. In fact, a mutation in one of these genes has been linked to severe outcomes in COVID-19 infections. This suggests that the immune system and brain cell energy production are more closely connected than previously thought.
To understand the effects of this blockage, the researchers analyzed four large sets of data on brain cells from Parkinson’s patients. They looked at which genes were active in these cells and compared them to the brains of healthy people of the same age.
They found that in Parkinson’s patients, damaged mitochondria were not only accumulating but also increasing the production of other toxic proteins. One protein, called PIAS2, was found in high levels in the brains of Parkinson’s patients, especially those who also developed dementia.
These findings suggest that blocking this harmful pathway could slow down or even prevent Parkinson’s disease. The researchers believe that studying this pathway further could lead to new treatments, not only for Parkinson’s but also for other similar brain diseases.
The study highlights the importance of ongoing research into ways to prevent or slow down Parkinson’s. Some studies suggest that certain vitamins, such as Vitamin E and Vitamin D, may help protect brain cells. Other research has found that flavonoid-rich foods, such as berries and tea, could improve survival in people with Parkinson’s.
This study was led by Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas and published in Molecular Psychiatry. Researchers hope that these findings will lead to new treatments that could help slow down or prevent Parkinson’s disease and its progression to dementia.
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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