Van Andel Institute scientists have identified a series of processes that help the brain adapt to damage caused by breakdowns in circuits that govern movement, cognition and sensory perception.
Because such breakdowns contribute to Parkinson's disease, the findings may one day help researchers optimize current treatments or develop new ones that repair or bypass the broken circuits. Our work highlights the importance of brain circuits in Parkinson's and offers another path forward for new treatment strategies. We are hopeful that this work will add to the scientific foundation for future therapies that better manage symptoms.
Chu and colleagues found that certain broken circuits in the thalamus and cortex can be repaired using agents that suppress disease-related messages from the basal ganglia, another brain region implicated in Parkinson's disease. Related StoriesTheir findings also suggest circuits in the thalamus and cortex may be impacted by two current Parkinson's disease treatments: dopaminergic medications and deep brain stimulation, both of which help mitigate symptoms but do not slow disease progression. The effectiveness of both options can vary from person to person.
"The cortex has long been considered a potential target for noninvasive treatment but research to date has been stymied by a limited understanding of what goes wrong in cortical circuits," Chu said. "This study is a first step toward remedying that problem and offers a clearer picture of both circuitry dysfunction and potential therapeutic strategies."
Other authors include Liqiang Chen, Ph.D., Samuel Daniels and Rachel Dvorak of Van Andel Institute. VAI's Optical Imaging Core and Vivarium Core contributed to this work.Journal reference:Chen, L., et al. Reduced thalamic excitation to motor cortical pyramidal tract neurons in parkinsonism. Science Advances. doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg3038.
United States Latest News, United States Headlines
Similar News:You can also read news stories similar to this one that we have collected from other news sources.
Repairing broken brain circuits may offer path to new Parkinson's treatmentsVan Andel Institute scientists have identified a series of processes that help the brain adapt to damage caused by breakdowns in circuits that govern movement, cognition and sensory perception.
Read more »
Brain lesions associated with memory loss in multiple sclerosis linked to common brain circuitBetween 30% and 50% of people living with multiple sclerosis (MS) will experience memory problems, but the cause is uncertain. Brain lesions are the hallmark imaging sign used to diagnose MS and are often associated with memory dysfunction. However, increased MS brain lesions are not specific to memory problems, and are also associated with fatigue, walking difficulty and other common MS symptoms. Previous studies that attempted to align the anatomy of lesions associated with memory problems in MS led to conflicting results.
Read more »
Gut-first theory of Parkinson's disease gains tractionAsk any neurologist: Parkinson's disease is a brain disorder. The conspicuous symptoms of Parkinson's disease-;uncontrollable tremors, slowed down motions, and the feeling that one's feet are stuck to the ground-;all stem from the loss of neurons in a region of the brain that helps control movement.
Read more »
Can Parkinson’s disease be detected with an eye exam?So-called “ocular biomarkers” may provide insights into brain health
Read more »
New gene variant linked to Parkinson's disease found in people of African ancestryA gene variant found almost exclusively in the genomes of people of African ancestry increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to an international study of nearly 198,000 participants with this genetic background.
Read more »
Parkinson's disease gene variant found in some people of African ancestryA gene variant found almost exclusively in the genomes of people of African ancestry increases the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, according to an international study of nearly 198,000 participants with this genetic background. Published in The Lancet Neurology, the study results suggest the risk may be linked to a variant in the gene encoding β-glucocerebrosidase (GBA1), a protein known to control how cells in the body recycle proteins.
Read more »