Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common brain disorders in the world and affects between seven and ten million people.
It mainly develops in older adults, although some younger people can also develop the condition.
The disease is best known for causing shaking, slow movement, muscle stiffness, and balance problems.
As it becomes more severe, many people also experience memory loss, changes in thinking, depression, sleep problems, and dementia. Although doctors have treatments that can help control symptoms, there is still no cure, and scientists are continuing to search for the underlying causes of the disease.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen has now uncovered an important clue that could help explain why Parkinson’s disease develops. The research was led by Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas and was published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry.
The findings suggest that damage to tiny structures inside brain cells, together with problems in the body’s natural cleanup system, may play a much bigger role than previously thought.
Inside every cell are tiny structures called mitochondria. They are often described as the cell’s power stations because they produce the energy needed for cells to survive and perform their daily work.
Brain cells need a particularly large amount of energy because they are active all the time, even while we sleep. If mitochondria become damaged and are not removed, brain cells gradually lose their ability to function properly.
Normally, the body has an efficient recycling system that finds damaged mitochondria, breaks them down, and replaces them with healthy ones.
This process keeps cells healthy throughout life. It is similar to replacing worn-out batteries before they stop working completely. If this recycling system fails, damaged mitochondria build up inside cells, reducing the amount of energy available.
The researchers found that this cleanup system appears to be blocked in people with Parkinson’s disease. Because of this blockage, damaged mitochondria accumulate inside brain cells.
As more damaged mitochondria collect, the cells produce less energy. Eventually the cells become weak and begin to die. The gradual loss of these brain cells is believed to contribute to the movement problems and memory changes that people with Parkinson’s experience.
The study also found that the blockage is linked to several genes involved in the immune system. Although these genes are well known for helping the body fight viruses and bacteria, they also have another important job. They help control how brain cells manage their mitochondria and energy production. This shows that the immune system and brain health are much more closely connected than scientists once believed.
Interestingly, some of the same biological pathways are involved in the body’s response to infections such as COVID-19. Previous research has shown that changes in one of these immune genes have been linked to more severe COVID-19 infections. While this does not mean COVID-19 causes Parkinson’s disease, it highlights how the same cellular pathways may influence several different diseases.
To understand what was happening, the research team examined brain cells donated by people with Parkinson’s disease and compared them with healthy brain cells. They carefully studied which genes were active in each group. One of the biggest differences involved a protein called PIAS2.
The scientists found that PIAS2 was much more active in brain cells from people with Parkinson’s disease. Higher levels of this protein were seen even in patients with an inherited form of the disease. This suggests that PIAS2 may be involved in blocking the normal recycling of damaged mitochondria, allowing unhealthy mitochondria to build up inside brain cells.
This discovery is important because PIAS2 and the blocked signaling pathway may become new targets for future medicines. If researchers can develop treatments that restore the normal cleanup process or reduce the harmful effects of PIAS2, they may be able to slow the loss of brain cells. Instead of only treating symptoms, future therapies could potentially slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease itself.
The researchers stress that much more work is needed before these findings can lead to new medicines. Future laboratory studies and clinical trials will be required to confirm the results and test possible treatments. However, the discovery provides scientists with a promising new direction for Parkinson’s research.
As the world’s population continues to age, the number of people living with Parkinson’s disease is expected to increase. Better understanding of what happens inside brain cells brings researchers one step closer to developing treatments that could protect brain function, preserve movement and memory, and improve the lives of millions of people around the world.
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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