Parkinson's Disease
Researchers directly visualize alpha‑synuclein oligomers in human Parkinson’s brain tissue
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Scientists in the U.K. and Canada report the first direct visualization and measurement of alpha‑synuclein oligomers—the small protein clusters long suspected of triggering Parkinson’s—in human brain tissue. Using an ultra‑sensitive imaging method, the team found these clusters were larger and more numerous in Parkinson’s than in age‑matched controls, a result published in Nature Biomedical Engineering that may help guide earlier diagnosis and targeted therapies.
Blood test identifies Parkinson's years before symptoms
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Scientists have developed a blood-based test that detects Parkinson's disease up to seven years before the onset of symptoms. The test targets abnormal alpha-synuclein proteins and shows high accuracy in at-risk individuals. This breakthrough could enable earlier treatments to slow disease progression.
Cellular switch discovery offers hope for Parkinson's treatment
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Scientists have identified a key cellular regulator called PP2A-B55alpha that balances mitochondrial health, potentially leading to new therapies for Parkinson's disease. In preclinical models, reducing its activity improved motor symptoms and mitochondrial function. The findings, published in Science Advances, could extend to other mitochondrial disorders and cancer.