Marie Curie Actions: Inspiring Researchers - Imdea

Brain gain to fightbrain drainA neurodegenerative disease is a condition in which the vital,and for now irreplaceable, cells of the brain and spinal cord,known as neurons, die. The two most common are Alzheimer’sand Parkinson’s disease, both of which share a commontrait: proteins collect and form deposits in internal organs,interfering with normal cellular function, sometimes lethally.Parkinson’s disease is the second most commonneurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer’s dementia.More than 1.2 million Europeans – mostly aged between 55and 75 – live with the consequences of this progressive disease,according to the European Parkinson’s Disease Association(EPDA). The disease is not only devastating for the sufferer,who gradually loses control of his or her body, but also forfriends and family who watch this happen.Scientists do not yet know what causes the condition, althoughit has been established that genetic factors, toxins and headtraumas are the cause in a minority of cases.Parkinson’s is very diffi cult to diagnose in its early stages –something that is not helped by the way in which symptomsvary from person to person. The development and progressionof the disease also hinder diagnosis. Many patients will suffertremors, slowness of movement, rigidity and poor balance,not to mention cognitive and mood disturbances. Thesesymptoms can be explained by a dramatic loss of dopamineproducingneurons, which in turn leads to a shortage of thisneurotransmitter in the brain of affected patients.Seeking a cureDespite long years of research, there remains no known curefor Parkinson’s. Instead, treatment focuses on alleviatingthe symptoms, which doctors do by compensating for thedopamine defi ciencies in the brain. As dopamine cannot crossDopaminergic neuron: this type of neuron degenerates preferentially in Parkinson’s disease.217