Research reveals how Parkinson’s develops

A breakthrough discovery in Parkinson’s research has shed light about how the disease spreads through the brain.

The University of Auckland research has debunked traditional thinking about the disease and revealed new potential treatment strategies.

The study, which was published in Scientific Reports – Nature on Thursday, will bring ‘‘real hope’’ to the 13,000 New Zealanders living with the disease, according to Parkinson’s New Zealand.

‘‘For many years we’ve been talking about finding a cause, cure or prevention of Parkinson’s and this is something that would really help us take a big step towards that goal,’’ said Deirdre O’Sullivan, chief executive of Parkinson’s New Zealand.

It’s the first proof, in cell culture, of how pathological proteins called Lewy bodies spread from cell to cell in the brain of a person affected by Parkinson’s, said associate professor Maurice Curtis.

The implication is that if there is a spread of the Lewy bodies in the brain then the spread could be stopped early on.

‘‘The traditional way of thinking about Parkinson’s was that there was a susceptible area in the brain and if you could fix that area then the next most susceptible area would soon be affected, but if the Parkinson’s disease pathology spreads then it may be possible to stop it in its tracks.’’

Curtis is at the helm of Parkinson’s disease study at Auckland University’s Centre for Brain Research.

He said the new understanding of how the disease develops provided his team with new goals in development of potential treatments.

It’s music to the ears of Judy Clarke, 58, who has been living with Parkinson’s for 11 years and is a Parkinson’s New Zealand board member.

‘‘It’s really exciting news; it’s great for people with Parkinson’s to know how it spreads and it’s great that New Zealand is playing such an active role in Parkinson’s research.’’