Parkinson’s disease development may be influenced by calcium levels
Close-up of a man with a mobility disorder in a wheelchair, highlighting accessibility equipment, disability inclusion concept with space for text --ar 16:9 --v 6.1 Job ID: 8caba547-0fe7-43c0-86d6-dafd39c2f704
Researchers from the University of Cambridge (Cambridge, UK) have demonstrated that elevated levels of calcium in the brain may cause the accumulation of alpha-synuclein (a-syn), the hallmark of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Thus far, the role of a-syn in PD has been unclear. The researchers were able overcome this by visualizing the behavior of a-syn, isolating synaptic vesicles and observing them via high-resolution microscopy. The team observed that calcium was capable of mediating interactions between small membranous structures inside nerve endings and a-syn and demonstrated that excesses of either calcium or a-syn may be the trigger for pathways resulting in neuronal...
