New hope for patients with Parkinson’s disease

A new weapon has been revealed in the fight against Parkinson’s disease, following the discovery by scientists of a way to remove toxic clumps of protein inside the brain.

The clumps, which are called Lewy bodies, accumulate to damage nerve cells and kill cells which then triggers the disease.

The body is unable to naturally get rid of the clumps because they are not red flagged for destruction, and it is not known how to stop them from forming.

However, researchers involved in the recent study have discovered that the molecule which stops them from being condemned and by blocking it, they can ensure that they are removed and are unable to build up again.

Lead investigator of the study Dr Xiaoguang Liu of Georgetown University Medical Centre in Washington DC, said “This study provides evidence that USP13 affects development and clearance of Lewy body protein clumps.”

She added that the molecule “may be a therapeutic target in Parkinson’s disease and other similar forms of neurodegeneration.”

Parkinson’s disease is a condition which develops slowly and damages the brain over time, causing people to shake uncontrollably and lose the ability to move. There are currently around 127,000 people in the UK with the condition.

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Posted by Karen Motley, Paralegal, Clinical Negligence Department, Chadwick Lawrence LLP (karenmotley@chadlaw.co.uk), medical negligence lawyers and clinical negligence solicitors in Huddersfield, Leeds, Wakefield and Halifax, West Yorkshire.

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