New gene discovery links Parkinson's disease to immune system
31/8/2010
A new gene has been discovered in the immune system region and has been linked to the development of Parkinson's disease.
According to researchers from John Hopkins University in Baltimore, Maryland, this genetic finding indicates that the inflammation associated with Parkinson's disease is not just a result of having the condition, but actually plays a major role in its development.
Prior to this study, it had long been thought that late-onset Parkinson's disease had no genetics components, it was simply a resultant factor of environmental causes.
However, lead investigator Dr Haydeh Payami says these exciting findings provide "another window" for observing how the condition develops.
"This finding anchors the idea of immune system involvement in genetics and brings it out to the forefront in terms of where research should be directed," she said.
Scientists at John Hopkins University recently discovered that drugs which block the release of the LRRK2 protein can stop the development of Parkinson's disease in mice.
