Scientists finally solve key Parkinson's mystery

A newly discovered protein could be the key to developing a treatment for the disease

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Parkinson’s is the fastest-growing neurodegenerative disease in the world, affecting around 10 million people globally. It’s the second most common neurodegenerative condition after Alzheimer’s and, currently, there’s no cure. But thanks to a recent breakthrough, scientists hope that new treatments may soon be on the horizon.

Scientists have now linked the disease to a protein called PINK1, produced by the PARK6 gene. Faults in the way PINK1 functions have been directly linked to Parkinson's disease, especially in people with early onset Parkinson’s, which accounts for about 1.2 per cent of cases in the UK.

Scientists have recently made strides in understanding how PINK1 interacts with mitochondria. Often called ‘the powerhouse of the cell,’ mitochondria generate the energy that all living cells need to live.

When mitochondria get damaged, PINK1 notices and signals to the body that they should be removed. But in people with Parkinson's disease, the faulty mitochondria go undetected and accumulate, releasing toxins that eventually kill the cells.