Researchers find mitochondrial DNA damage triggers spread of Parkinson's disease-like pathology

 

"For the first time, we can show that mitochondria, the vital energy producers within brain cells, particularly neurons, undergo damage, leading to disruptions in mitochondrial DNA. This initiates and spreads the disease like a wildfire through the brain," says Issazadeh-Navikas and adds, "Our findings establish that the spread of the damaged genetic material, the mitochondrial DNA, causes the symptoms reminiscent of Parkinson's disease and its progression to dementia."


https://medicalxpress.com/news/2023-10-mitochondrial-dna-triggers-parkinson-disease-like.html


https://www.nature.com/articles/s41380-023-02251-4



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