Parkinson’s disease causes progressive changes in brain’s blood vessels: Study

Researchers in Australia have found that Parkinson’s disease causes significant and progressive changes in the brain’s blood vessels, changing the understanding of the disease. While Parkinson’s disease is characterised by alpha-synuclein protein deposits, the research demonstrated that region-specific changes to blood vessels in the brain underlie disease progression, Xinhua news agency reported. “Traditionally, Parkinson’s researchers have focused on protein accumulation and neuronal loss, but we have shown the impacts on our cerebrovasculature — the blood vessels in our brain,” said Derya Dik, postdoctoral student at Neuroscience Research Australia (NeuRA). “Our research identified region-specific changes in the brain’s blood vessels, including an increased presence of string vessels, which are non-functional remnants of capillaries,” Dik added. NeuRA researchers, in collaboration with the University of New South Wales and the University of Sydney, also observed changes relating to how blood flows in the brain and how the blood-brain barrier operates.