New approaches for Parkinson's treatment? Researchers study metabolic changes

(University of Luxembourg) Researchers at the Luxembourg Centre for Systems Biomedicine of the University of Luxembourg and partners in Constance, Munich and Bochum are studying the causes of premature ageing of neurons in Parkinson's patients with a defective DJ1 (PARK7) gene. The genetic defect causes changes in the cellular metabolism meaning that neurons are subjected to oxidative stress and an increased immune response in the brain.