The team of scientists from the Christine Van Broeckhoven laboratory has determined a new risk gene that could develop the Parkinson’s disease, as per the new study. Recent mutations in the ATP10B gene and a decrease in the number of ATP10B proteins represent the leading cause of this shift.
The ATP10B is responsible for the transport of glucosylceramide, which is a crucial factor in the development of the Parkinson’s disease. However, the recent mutations are affecting the development of this function. The reduced presence of the ATP10B is determining the loss of neurons, facilitating the apparition of the Parkinson’s disease.
Over more than 12 million people on a global scale are affected by this disease. It is characterized by a wide range of motor and non-motor symptoms that are changing the daily activities they need to perform. At the moment the scientists have failed to discover a cure for this disease
Advancements in exploring the causes of Parkinson’s disease
Many people are struggling with the impediments Parkinson’s disease has, which determines an insufficient quality of life. In a percentage of 5 to 15% of the patients worldwide, the Parkinson’s gene is producing mutation, causing the spreading of this disease between generations. The carrier of the disease is likely to develop Parkinson’s throughout the years, but there are some cases where the genetic risk is alarmingly high.
Stefanie Smolders is a researcher working at the VIB-UAntwerpen laboratory. Her study was dedicated to the genetic heritage of children and how it would develop as years pass by. She discovered that a mix between various mutations reduces the ATP10B protein and function.
In addition to this, the apparition of Parkinson’s disease is more likely to occur at an elderly stage of life. The importance of ATP10B is increasingly high since it is responsible for protecting the neural cells from environmental risks determined by the Parkinson’s disease.
