The disease, which affects over 10 million people worldwide including Billy Connolly, affects the nervous system, leading to cognitive decline and eventually dementia.
Scientists have identified a potential cause of Parkinson's disease that could help lead to treatment of the incurable condition.
Findings published today in Molecular Psychiatry show that Parkinson's symptoms my ignite from damaged DNA that becomes "toxic" to the body. Researchers say the ground-breaking discovery is a major development in the understanding of the disease and progression towards future treatments. “For the first time, we can show that mitochondria, the vital energy producers within brain cells, particularly neurons, undergo damage, leading to disruptions in mitochondrial DNA. This initiates and spreads the disease like a wildfire through the brain,” says study lead Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas.
Professor Shohreh Issazadeh-Navikas adds: “Our findings establish that the spread of the damaged genetic material, the mitochondrial DNA, causes the symptoms reminiscent of Parkinson’s disease and its progression to dementia.”
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