Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common brain disorders in older adults, affecting millions of people around the world. It mainly causes shaking, stiff muscles, slow movement, and trouble with balance.
As the disease becomes worse, many people also develop problems with memory and thinking, and some eventually develop dementia. Although treatments can help control symptoms, they cannot stop the disease from progressing, so scientists have been searching for its underlying cause for many years.
A new study from the University of Copenhagen has uncovered an important clue that may help explain why Parkinson’s disease develops.
The research, published in the journal Molecular Psychiatry, suggests that a key problem is a blockage in the system that keeps mitochondria healthy inside brain cells. This discovery could open the door to new treatments aimed at slowing or even preventing the disease.
Mitochondria are often called the powerhouses of the cell because they produce the energy that cells need to survive and perform their daily jobs. Like any machine, mitochondria can wear out or become damaged over time. Healthy cells regularly remove these faulty mitochondria and replace them with new ones, helping the cells stay healthy and continue working normally.
The researchers found that this cleaning system does not work properly in people with Parkinson’s disease. Instead of being removed, damaged mitochondria build up inside brain cells.
As more faulty mitochondria collect, the cells produce less energy and gradually become damaged. Eventually, many of these brain cells die, leading to the movement problems and other symptoms that are typical of Parkinson’s disease.
One of the most surprising findings was the role of the immune system. The scientists discovered that genes normally involved in protecting the body from viruses, including viruses such as COVID-19, also help control the system that keeps mitochondria healthy.
When these immune-related genes stop working properly, they may interfere with this important process and contribute to the development of Parkinson’s disease.
The team analyzed information from several research studies and examined gene activity in brain cells from people with Parkinson’s disease. They identified unusually high levels of a protein called PIAS2. Their findings suggest that this protein may play an important role in blocking the cell’s normal cleaning process, making it a possible target for future medicines.
If scientists can develop treatments that reduce the effects of PIAS2 or restore the mitochondria cleaning system, they may be able to protect brain cells before too much damage occurs.
Such treatments could slow the progression of Parkinson’s disease and may also reduce the risk of dementia in many patients. The researchers also believe that the same biological problem could be involved in inherited forms of Parkinson’s disease.
Although more research is still needed before these findings can lead to new therapies, the discovery represents an important advance in understanding Parkinson’s disease.
By revealing how problems with mitochondria and the immune system work together, the study gives scientists a promising new direction for future research. It also offers fresh hope that better treatments could one day improve the lives of millions of people living with this challenging 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 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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