Scientists Discover How Parkinson's May Spread in Brain—and Way To Slow It
Summary
Scientists at Yale School of Medicine discovered two proteins on nerve cells that help the toxic protein linked to Parkinson’s disease enter healthy brain cells. By blocking these proteins, they were able to reduce damage in laboratory and animal tests, suggesting a new way to slow or stop the disease.Key Facts
- Parkinson’s disease causes problems with movement, balance, and coordination and affects over 1 million Americans.
- A harmful protein called alpha-synuclein builds up in the brain and spreads between nerve cells as the disease progresses.
- Researchers found that two proteins, mGluR4 and NPDC1, work together to let alpha-synuclein enter healthy brain cells.
- Blocking these proteins in mice protected dopamine-producing neurons from damage normally caused by alpha-synuclein.
- Drugs targeting the mGluR4 protein already exist and may be developed to treat Parkinson’s by stopping the disease’s spread.
- The goal is to find treatments that change the disease’s course, not just treat symptoms.
- This discovery could lead to therapies that slow, stop, or reverse Parkinson’s disease and similar brain disorders.
- The research was published in the journal Nature Communications in 2025.
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