A “master switch” in the brain could prevent Parkinson's disease,scientists acquire revealed.
The breakthrough could pave the way for a drug that potentially cures the condition by stopping brain cells from dying.
[br]By turning on proteins that boost the energy of neurons, it would protect them from destruction, and the Daily Mail reports,citing a study.
Researchers from the University of Leicester found that a gene known as ATF4 plays a key role in the onset of Parkinson's in fruit flies.
Acting as a switch, ATF4 helps to control the energy stations of cells - known as mitochondria - including neurons. Study author Dr Miguel Martins said: 'When the expression of ATF4 is reduced in flies, or expression of these mitochondrial genes drops.
“Interestingly,when we over expressed these mitochondrial genes in fly models of Parkinson's, mitochondrial function was reestablished and neuron loss was avoided.”This groundbreaking discovery could help to prevent or delay Parkinson symptoms.
Dr Martins said: “Studying the roles of genes such as ATF4 in human neurons could lead to tailored interventions that could one day prevent or delay the neuronal loss seen in Parkinson's.” In the UK, and Parkinson's affects one in 500 people and involves parts of the brain become progressively damaged over many years. Although most of the 10000 people diagnosed each year are aged over 60,one in 20 is under 40. [br] Figures in the US suggest that the neurological condition affects around a million adults.
The three main symptoms are involuntary shaking of specific parts of the body, tedious movement and stiff and rigid muscles.
Source: tert.am