Gene therapy targeting neurons in the substantia nigra is expected to improve the efficacy of levodopa in the treatment of Parkinson's disease

In the advanced stages of Parkinson's disease, the drug levodopa becomes less effective in treating symptoms due to the unstoppable loss of dopamine-releasing neurons

The gene therapy restores the ability of neurons in the substantia nigra to convert levodopa to dopamine

In this new study, the authors also explain why dopamine-releasing neurons (that is, dopamine-releasing neurons, also called dopaminergic neurons) are lost in Parkinson's disease

These findings in mice may help identify humans in the early stages of Parkinson's disease and develop therapies to slow the progression of the disease and treat advanced disease

Key new discoveries:

(1) Mitochondria in dopamine-releasing neurons are damaged enough to cause Parkinson's disease

(2) Contrary to the thinking in the past 30 years, the appearance of motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease requires the loss of dopamine release in the substantia nigra of the brain

(3) These authors confirmed that gene therapy targeting the substantia nigra effectively improves the efficacy of levodopa in relieving symptoms

D.

In addition to providing a clear target for remission therapy, this new study also provides a model of Parkinson's disease before clinical symptoms appear

Note: The original text has been deleted

Reference materials:

Patricia González-Rodríguez et al.