Researchers at Case Western Reserve University say they have developed a promising potential treatment for Parkinson鈥檚 disease.
It targets toxins that damage the energy factories of nerve cells in the brain, known as the mitochondria.
Professor Xin Qi has studied how can lead to neurodegenerative diseases. Her lab was the first to identify tangles of a rogue protein called as the culprit of the cascade that leads to nerve damage, and eventually Parkinson鈥檚 disease.
Now she鈥檚 developed a custom molecule, a peptide dubbed CS2, which blocks alpha synuclein from attacking mitochondria.
鈥淚 truly believe the peptide could be one of the therapeutic options in the near future,鈥� Qi said.
The CS2 molecule only attacks the toxic form of alpha synuclein and has few potential side effects, she added.
鈥淲e found CS2 shows protection with causing any damaging effects," she said.
It鈥檚 one of the first therapies that attack the root cause of Parkinson鈥檚 disease rather than just addressing the symptoms.
The peptide has only been tested in mice and on human neurons in a Petri dish so far, but Qi is hopeful it will someday be a frontline defense in slowing the progression of Parkinson鈥檚.
She鈥檚 formed a start-up company called to pave the way for clinical trials.
