The disease is more common in older people, with most cases occurring after the age of 50. These crises lead to overheating of cells and eventually cause brain cell burnout.
Advertisement
The study conducted by the team of scientists at the University of Montreal has shown that the brain cells that are involved with the disease required much higher energy requirements than the other cells.
He explains, “Like a motor constantly running at high speed, these neurons need to produce an incredible amount of energy to function”.
He hopes the findings will produce better ways to represent Parkinson’s disease in animal models and lead to new treatments.
Dr. Carlos Singer, who is the director of the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders at the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine, said according to the report that exercise is the “hot topic” in neurology, particularly as it pertains to Parkinson’s disease. “Despite the growing recognition of cognitive impairment in Parkinson’s disease, the brain mechanisms that underlie the development of these cognitive deficits are unknown”.
Doctors have had a hard time finding a treatment for Parkinson’s disease in mice, even after incorporating human genes. The research team under Trudeau has already started to pursue this end. As such, mitochondria could play an essential role as these organelles are cell’s “power-house”, which means they are responsible for generating energy and, in the case of neurons, allow the release of electrical signals and chemical messengers such as dopamine.
Each person with Parkinson’s will experience symptoms differently. Trudeau believes Parkinson’s disease can largely be prevented.
“To make use of the analogy of a motor”, he says, “a automotive that overheats will burn considerably extra gasoline, and, not surprisingly, find yourself on the storage extra typically”.
“From an evolutionary standpoint, some of our neurons are perhaps just not programmed to last 80, 90 or 100 years, as we are seeing more and more”.
Advertisement
As mentioned above, there have been many instances where patients have reported that they have witnessed a significant decline in the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease after taking part in physical activities like cycling program. “It’s to be expected that certain parts of our body are less able to withstand the effects of time”, Trudeau said.
