Mitochondrial Treatment for Parkinson’s Disease

Syllabus: GS2/Health

Context

• Recent research has identified a key protein that could lead to new treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other brain conditions.

About

• Researchers who studyParkinson’s disease have been investigating the role that mitochondria – the powerhouses that fuel cells – play in Parkinson’s.
• Researchers have identified a key protein that could lead to new treatments for Parkinson’s disease and other brain conditions.

Mitochondrial Dynamics and Neurodegeneration

• Emerging studies have linked imbalances in mitochondrial processes to different neurodegenerative diseases, including Parkinson’s disease.
  • Impaired mitochondrial dynamics also take down the cell’s cleaning and waste recycling processes, leading to a pileup of toxic proteins that form harmful aggregates inside the cell. 
  • In Parkinson’s, the presence of these toxic protein aggregates is a hallmark of the disease.

Parkinson’s Disease

• Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that disrupts the brain’s ability to produce dopamine, a vital neurotransmitter responsible for movement control.
  • PD gets worse over time. There is no cure, but therapies and medicines can reduce symptoms. 
• Common symptoms include tremors, painful muscle contractions and difficulty speaking.
  • Parkinson disease results in high rates of disability and the need for care. Many people with PD also develop dementia.
• The disease usually occurs in older people, but younger people can also be affected. Men are affected more often than women.

• In 1817, a British physician named James Parkinson published An Essay on the Shaking Palsy, describing for the first time, cases of a neurodegenerative disorder now known as Parkinson’s disease. 
• Today, Parkinson’s disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease in the U.S.
  • It affects about 1 million Americans and more than 10 million people worldwide.

Parkinson Disease in India

• In India, the rising life expectancy and growing population are contributing to an increased burden of PD. 
• In contrast to western countries, India grapples with a significant obstacle—PD typically manifests at a younger age, hitting individuals around 51 years old, roughly a decade earlier.
  • This early onset has profound implications, impacting individuals during their prime working years. 
  • Additionally, the scarcity of neurologists, especially in rural areas, frequently results in delayed diagnosis and insufficient initial treatment. 
• The Union health ministry has decided to offer neurological care at Ayushman Arogya Mandirs, the government’s primary healthcare centres, to combat the increasing incidence of neurological disorders such as Parkinson’s, epilepsy and dementia among Indians.

Source: TH