Parkinson’s disease is one step closer to a cure thanks to stem cell research at the University of Bedfordshire. Scientists are now able to identify the contribution of different elements inside a single brain cell that are responsible for the development of Parkinson’s disease.
Dr Basra Ahmed, an IBMS Fellow, and a team of research students have identified that Parkinson’s disease sufferers’ neurons die because those in the brain’s movement control region cannot detoxify the harmful substances produced during metabolic reactions. The next step will be to attempt to protect the cell from death, which may lead to the discovery of a cure.
During Dr Ahmed’s research, it was shown that Parkinson’s sufferers’ neurons are overloaded with excess toxic by-products, which in healthy individuals are managed harmlessly. It is the oxidative stress that causes the neurons to die, and this leads to disruption of the messages that control movement and balance.
Using her current research Dr Ahmed hopes to continue to the next stage and uncover methods of preventing this damaging process from occurring, which will lead to the ability of minimise the deterioration seen in the brains of Parkinson’s disease suffers, and prevent the manifestation of symptoms.
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