Scientists have long tried to understand why Parkinson’s disease develops, but many questions have remained unanswered.
Now, a new study from the University of Copenhagen is offering fresh insight into what might be going wrong inside the brain.
Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common brain disorders in older adults. It affects millions of people worldwide, with estimates suggesting that between seven and ten million people are living with the condition.
It mainly affects movement, causing symptoms such as shaking, stiffness, and slow motion. In some people, it can also lead to memory problems and dementia as the disease progresses.
Even though Parkinson’s disease is so widespread, the exact cause has not been fully understood. Doctors know that it involves the gradual loss of nerve cells in the brain, but they have not been sure why these cells begin to die in the first place. This new research helps to explain one possible reason.
The study was led by Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas and was published in the scientific journal Molecular Psychiatry. The researchers focused on a very small but important part of our cells called mitochondria.
These structures are often described as the “power plants” of the cell because they produce the energy that cells need to survive and function.
This energy is especially important for brain cells, also known as neurons, because they are very active and need a constant supply of energy to send signals throughout the body. When mitochondria are healthy, they support normal brain function. However, like all parts of the body, mitochondria can become damaged over time.
Normally, the body has a built-in system to deal with this problem. When mitochondria are damaged or no longer working properly, the cell breaks them down and removes them. This process helps keep the cell clean and working efficiently, much like taking out the trash in a house.
The new study found that this cleaning process does not work properly in people with Parkinson’s disease. Instead of removing the damaged mitochondria, the system becomes blocked. This means that faulty mitochondria begin to build up inside the nerve cells.
As more damaged mitochondria collect, the cells struggle to produce enough energy. Without enough energy, the neurons become weaker and eventually start to die. This loss of brain cells is what leads to the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease.
The researchers also discovered that this problem is linked to certain genes in the immune system. These genes usually help the body fight infections, such as viruses. However, they also appear to play a role in controlling how cells manage their energy and clean up damaged parts.
When these immune-related genes do not work as they should, they can interfere with the process that removes damaged mitochondria. This creates a harmful chain reaction inside the brain.
Interestingly, some of these same genes are involved in the body’s response to viral infections, including COVID-19. This suggests there may be a deeper connection between the immune system and brain health than scientists once thought.
To reach these conclusions, the researchers studied several sets of data from people with Parkinson’s disease. They examined brain cells from patients, including some who had also developed dementia. By comparing these samples with those from healthy individuals, they were able to identify key differences in how genes were working.
One important finding was that a protein called PIAS2 was much more active in people with Parkinson’s disease. This protein appears to play a role in the harmful changes happening inside the cells. It may be involved in both common forms of Parkinson’s and those that are inherited through families.
These discoveries are important because they open the door to new ways of treating the disease. If scientists can find a way to restore the cell’s ability to remove damaged mitochondria, they may be able to slow down or even stop the damage to brain cells.
Although more research is still needed, this study provides hope for the future. Understanding the root causes of Parkinson’s disease is a key step toward developing better treatments. Scientists around the world are continuing to build on these findings, with the goal of protecting brain health and improving the lives of people affected by this condition.
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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