A new study reveals that brain cells’ burnout is the reason for Parkinson’s disease. It seems that the cells die prematurely in this case, as they exhaust themselves.
Parkinson’s is an illness affecting the central nervous system, which leads to tremor and impaired muscular coordination. It is a degenerative disorder. To be more precise, the disease damages the motor system of the sufferer. Roughly put, the usual symptoms are: rigidity, inflexibility and slowness of movement. Parkinson’s is common in elders, after they turn 50. The National Parkinson’s Disease Foundation reported that Parkinson’s affects approximately 1.5 million Americans.
Moreover, health experts say that the sufferer’s brain cells require tremendous energy in order to send impulses that control movement.
Scientists from the University of Montreal observed the disease in mice. They analyzed mitochondria’s role, which contains genetic material important for cell metabolism. Moreover, mitochondria releases dopamine, a chemical, or, to be more precise, a neurotransmitter which tends to lack in Parkison’s patients.
The scientific team pointed out the fact that the overheating of the neurons was due to high levels of energy which were overbearing for these nervous system cells, leading them to exhaustion and wiping them out.
Lead researcher and professor at the University of Montreal, Eric Trudeau, explained that
“to use the analogy of a motor, a car that overheats will burn significantly more fuel.”
Therefore, this is precisely what happens to Parkson’s sufferers’ neurons – they “overheat”, this leading them to a premature death.
Trudeau and his team hope that, according to their new findings, innovative medication would be made available which would help brain cells manage energy more efficiently, or prevent energy consumption or accelerated deterioration. Currently, a cure hasn’t been found for Parkinson’s disorder, but scientists are confident, according to their recent findings.
However, besides medication, there is another factor which helps Parkinson’s patients: physical activity. Moreover, a fitness or wellness center might help the sufferers bear with their disease. They can engage in cycling, walking on the treadmill, or even take yoga classes. Music therapy might help too.
The director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders at the University of Miami, Dr. Carlos Singer, pointed out that physical therapy brings high benefits to people with the disorder, by
“slowing down the progression of Parkinson’s.”
Photo Credits images.iop.org