Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia are two serious brain disorders that affect millions of people around the world. These diseases slowly damage brain cells and can greatly affect daily life.
People with Parkinson’s disease often develop shaking, slow movement, muscle stiffness, balance problems, and trouble walking. As the disease progresses, many patients also experience memory loss, confusion, sleep problems, depression, and changes in thinking.
Lewy Body Dementia, often called LBD, is another major brain disease linked to memory and movement problems. It is one of the most common types of dementia in older adults.
People with LBD may have confusion, hallucinations, movement difficulties, and changes in alertness that come and go during the day. Because Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia share many symptoms and biological changes, scientists believe the two diseases are closely connected.
For many years, researchers have been trying to understand exactly what causes these brain disorders and how to slow them down. There is currently no cure for either condition, and most treatments only help manage symptoms instead of stopping the disease itself.
Now, scientists at Scripps Research have made an important discovery that could open the door to new treatments in the future. Their findings help explain why harmful proteins build up in the brain and damage brain cells in people with Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
At the center of the discovery is a protein called alpha-synuclein. In healthy brains, proteins are carefully controlled and removed when they are no longer needed. The brain has natural cleaning systems that break down old, damaged, or extra proteins to keep cells healthy.
However, in Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia, alpha-synuclein starts to collect inside brain cells. Instead of being removed properly, the protein sticks together and forms clumps. These clumps are toxic to brain cells and interfere with normal brain function.
Scientists believe these protein clumps are one of the main causes of damage in both diseases. Over time, the clumps spread from one brain cell to another, allowing the disease to slowly move through different parts of the brain.
The body normally has special systems designed to clean up unwanted proteins before they become dangerous. One important helper in this cleanup process is a protein called p62. This protein works like a recycling assistant inside cells. It helps gather damaged proteins and send them to the cell’s waste disposal system.
But the researchers discovered that in Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia, p62 does not work properly.
The team found that a chemical process called S-nitrosylation changes the structure of p62 and interferes with its normal job. This process happens when there are high levels of nitrogen-related molecules in the brain, especially nitric oxide.
Nitric oxide is naturally produced by the body and normally plays important roles in communication between cells. But when levels become too high, it can contribute to harmful chemical reactions.
The researchers discovered that excessive nitric oxide causes chemical changes to p62. Once damaged, p62 can no longer remove alpha-synuclein effectively. As a result, the harmful protein clumps continue growing and spreading through the brain.
This finding is important because it gives scientists a new target for future treatments. Instead of only trying to treat symptoms, researchers may now be able to focus on protecting p62 and restoring the brain’s natural cleanup system.
If scientists can prevent p62 from being damaged by these nitrogen molecules, they may be able to slow down or stop the buildup of alpha-synuclein. This could potentially slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy Body Dementia.
The researchers are also interested in whether certain vitamins could help protect brain cells. Vitamins such as vitamin E and vitamin D are already known for supporting brain and nerve health. Scientists are now studying whether these vitamins might also help protect p62 from harmful chemical changes.
Although this research is still in the early stages, experts say it offers new hope for patients and families affected by these diseases. Discoveries like this help scientists better understand the biological processes happening inside the brain and provide clues for developing future therapies.
Brain diseases like Parkinson’s and Lewy Body Dementia are becoming more common as populations grow older. These illnesses can place enormous emotional and physical stress on patients, caregivers, and healthcare systems.
Because of this, scientists around the world are searching urgently for treatments that can slow or stop brain cell damage before symptoms become severe.
The new findings from Scripps Research suggest that the brain’s own cleaning system may play a much bigger role in these diseases than previously understood. By protecting this system and preventing harmful protein buildup, future treatments may be able to preserve brain function for longer periods of time.
While much more research is still needed before new therapies become available, the discovery marks another important step toward understanding some of the most difficult brain diseases affecting older adults today.
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.
Copyright © 2026 Knowridge Science Report. All rights reserved.
