U of M Researchers Study Parkinson's Disease, Treatment

Copied from The Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation Weekly News Update

abc news - University of Minnesota researchers are attempting to slow the onset of Parkinson’s disease and understand more about how it affects people.

The researchers have published two different studies that are aimed at combating Parkinson’s disease and slowing neurodegeneration. They hope to develop a drug that will treat the underlying causes of the disease.

The first study looks at reasons behind the death of neurons in those who have Parkinson’s disease. The researchers believe that a specific protein can build up in the neuron cell that eventually kills it.

The second study looks at the process of how that protein kills the neurons. By targeting this pathway, researchers are learning how to delay the disease onset.

The researchers say that mice treated with Salubrinal had a longer lifespan and a delayed onset of Parkinson’s. Treated animals were also “significantly healthier” and their bodies functioned for longer periods of time.

An outcome of the studies is the conclusion that chronic stress on the endoplasmic reticulum contributes to the onset of Parkinson’s disease and that targeted therapies can help delay its progression.

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