People who carry a rare gene variant are about half as likely to develop Parkinson’s disease than people who carry a different version of the gene, a new study has found. Researchers have started to unravel exactly how this genetic quirk might protect against Parkinson’s by preserving the function of a crucial enzyme needed for cells’ metabolism and survival. A better understanding of the protective mechanism could lead to new treatments for the disease. “This study advances our understanding of why people might get Parkinson’s and how we might develop new therapies for this devastating disease,” said Dr Pinchas Cohen, dean of the University of Southern California Leonard Davis School of Gerontology.
Parkinson’s disease emerges when movement-controlling cells in the brain die
