Therapeutics for the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Researchers in Dr. Bingwei Lu's lab have identified genes that could serve as therapeutic targets for the treatment of Parkinson's disease (PD). PD is a common neurodegenerative movement disorder affecting 1% of the population over the age 60. It has been linked to acquired or spontaneous mutations in mitochondrial genes or nuclear genes relevant to mitochondrial function. PD patients exhibit symptoms including resting tremor, bradykinesia, muscle rigidity and postural instability. Current treatments only alleviate the symptoms and there is no cure for PD yet. This technology provides therapeutic targets that could be used to treat PD.

Stage of Research

The inventors have identified new functions of proteins involved in mitochondrial transport and quality control. Mitochondrial quality control is critically involved in PD pathogenesis and players in this regulation provide potential therapeutic targets.