Parkinson’s clues seen in tiny zebrafish

Parkinson’s patients could be helped by fresh insights gained from studies of tiny tropical fish.

Research at the University of Edinburgh using zebrafish has revealed how key brain cells that are damaged in people with Parkinson’s disease can be regenerated. The findings offer clues that could one day lead to treatments for the neurological condition.

Parkinson’s occurs when specialised nerve cells in the brain are destroyed. These cells are responsible for producing an important chemical called dopamine.