Mitochondrial DNA homeostasis dysregulated in Parkinson’s disease

New research from the University of Bergen (Norway), published recently in Nature Communications, has described mitochondrial processes underlying Parkinson’s disease (PD) pathology. Findings from the study suggest that impairments in mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) homeostasis are a key process of neurodegeneration in PD: this newly identified mechanism could hold great potential for future treatment and therapy. Damage to mitochondria is linked to both neuronal loss and normal aging. However, unlike in the brains of healthy individuals, the mitochondria in the brains of individuals with PD are unable to adapt to aging effects. Charaplampos Tzoulis, from the University of Bergen and Haukeland...