▲ Research results have shown that DNA damage in mitochondria within brain cells is valuable as an early diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson’s disease. (Photo = DB)
Research results have shown that DNA damage in mitochondria within brain cells is valuable as an early diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson’s disease.
Research results were published in ‘Molecular Psychiatry’ showing that DNA damage in brain cells, especially mitochondria within neurons, is valuable as an early diagnostic biomarker for Parkinson’s disease.
A research team from the University of Copenhagen, Denmark, focused on the link between mitochondrial damage and Parkinson’s disease.
The research team explained that if damaged mitochondrial DNA spreads to the brain, it can cause symptoms similar to Parkinson’s disease and lead to dementia. Next, they predicted that if mitochondrial DNA from damaged brain cells leaks into the blood, it could be detected with a simple blood test and used for early diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease or evaluation of response to treatment.
They said future studies should compare blood samples from Parkinson’s disease patients and healthy controls to determine whether damaged mitochondrial DNA is found specifically in Parkinson’s disease patients.
Experts noted that the cause of neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s disease is often unclear, so treatment is limited, and the fact that mitochondrial DNA can cause sporadic Parkinson’s disease is encouraging.
They said that sporadic Parkinson’s disease symptoms were induced when damaged mitochondrial DNA was injected into the brains of mice, and they expected to be able to develop a new Parkinson’s disease treatment by studying the signaling pathway related to mitochondrial DNA.
Meanwhile, experts said further research is needed to understand the impact of mitochondrial damage in neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, they explained that exercise therapy for patients with neurodegenerative diseases can be used to manage the disease by improving clinical physical function.
The most effective exercise treatment is high-intensity aerobic exercise, which not only provides basic life energy but also improves the ATP production capacity of mitochondria and cells for mRNA and protein transcription.
Experts emphasized that it is important to prescribe exercise therapy from the beginning of Parkinson’s disease diagnosis to relieve symptoms caused by mitochondrial damage.
Physical therapists are researching the ideal exercise method, intensity, and timing to achieve maximum therapeutic benefit, and currently believe that exercise therapy may be the best option for working on mitochondrial DNA and energy systems.
Medical Today Reporter Jaebaek Choi (jaebaekchoi@naver.com)
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2023-10-10 06:14:11
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