Researchers at the university of Montreal have discovered that certain cells burn out in the brains of the patients who suffer from Parkinson's disease, The Telegaph reports.
The researchers conducted their research on mice. The report has been published in Current Biology.
Parkinson's disease is marked by the loss of flexibility, stiffness and a slowdown in body movements. It is caused by the loss of nerve cells in the brain. Earlier studies on the disease have been unable to explain why only a part of the brain cells degenerate when a person is afflicted with Parkinson's disease.
According to The Telegraph, Parkinson's UK director of research Dr Arthur Roach said,
"Out of the billions of cells in the brain, it is always the same small group that degenerate and die in Parkinson's. We don't know why only these cells are affected."
The study conducted by the team of scientists at the University of Montreal has shown that the brain cells that are involved with the disease required much higher energy requirements than the other cells.
"Like a motor constantly running at high speed, these neurons need to produce an incredible amount of energy to function," said Prof Louis Eric Trudeau, according to The Telegraph.
"They appear to exhaust themselves and die prematurely."
The study could aid researchers in discovering new treatments for the disease.
Dr Arthur Roach said, "This study provides strong support to the idea that it is the unique structure and function of these cells that makes them especially susceptible to a damaging process called oxidative stress."
"We hope that this study will rekindle interest in the approach, and even lead to new treatments based on the most up-to-date ideas about oxidative stress."
