A team of researchers from the University of California in Los Angeles (USA) has achieved a great advance in the research of Parkinson's disease after identifying a new gene involved in this disease that affects the nervous system and characterized, among other things, by problems speech, sleep, tremors, depression, excessive salivation or balance problems, and which is chronic and degenerative in nature.
The identification of the new gene, published in the Elife review, plays an important mediating role in other previously recognized genes (PARKIN and PINK1). Specifically, the new gene is MUL1 and it was discovered thanks to a study with fruit flies and mice. The team of researchers found that supplying an extra amount of the MUL1 gene helps improve mitochondrial damage , due to these mutated genes, and therefore, inhibiting this new gene exacerbates the damage.
“We show that the MUL1 dose is key and optimizing its function is crucial for brain health and for preventing Parkinson's disease. Our work shows that mitochondrial health is of vital importance to prevent us from suffering from neurodegeneration . In addition, the search for a drug that can improve MUL1 function would be of great benefit to patients with Parkinson's disease, ”says study leader Ming Guo.
This new discovery could lead to great advances in the treatment of the disease, as well as its prevention, and opens hope for a potential cure for this disorder .
