21 hours ago
Breakthrough discovery could slow or reverse Parkinson's disease
A new study suggests that a low-oxygen environment, similar to the air around Mount Everest 's base camp, could be key to treating and potentially reversing Parkinson's disease.
Research indicates that Parkinson's symptoms are linked to an accumulation of excess oxygen molecules in the brain, caused by dysfunctional cellular processes.
In experiments, mice with Parkinson's-like conditions housed in low-oxygen chambers did not experience neuron loss or movement problems, despite developing protein clumps.
The findings suggest that reducing overall oxygen supply protects brain cells from damage, even if it does not prevent the formation of toxic protein clumps.
Scientists are now working on "hypoxia in a pill" drugs to mimic these low-oxygen effects, though further research is required before human application.
'Mount Everest air' could hold key to reversing Parkinson's symptoms, study finds
