New Staging System Could Forecast How Quickly Parkinson’s Might Progress After Diagnosis
In the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, alpha-synuclein accumulates in the brain, damaging nerve cells that produce dopamine. Dopamine is a hormone that regulates movement. Its absence in the brain can cause movement problems, among other symptoms. Investigators believe that alpha-synuclein accumulates in the brain for years before patients begin presenting with symptoms. Alpha-synuclein is a protein that forms Lewy bodies, which scientists believe may be the cause of Parkinson’s. Following research from last year that found that this protein could be detected in living patients via cerebrospinal fluid, investigators decided to use biological indicators to help develop a more…
