Blood vessel formation may explain Parkinson’s symptoms
Intractable walking and balance difficulties for people who suffer from Parkinson’s disease are likely caused by an unwanted formation of blood vessels in the brain (angiogenesis), according to new research from Lund University, Sweden.
The research findings support similar data from a previous study by other researchers, which was performed posthumously on brain tissue from a small number of patients.
According to Oskar Hansson, reader at Lund University and consultant at Skåne University Hospital, “The strength of our study is the number of participants, and the fact that they are alive. Because many suffer from several parallel diseases at the final stage of their lives, it is difficult to analyse samples from deceased persons.”
Researchers used a broad approach when looking for mechanisms to increase understanding of how Parkinson’s disease works, which showed “clear connections between markers of angiogenesis in the brain and walking or balance difficulties among the participants”, explained Hansson.
“We also noted an increased permeability of the blood-brain barrier, which leads to blood components potentially leaking into the brain and causing damage.”
The first stage of the study included 100 Parkinson’s patients and 38 healthy control persons at Skåne University Hospital, Malmö. Through a cerebrospinal fluid sample, a number of different proteins that indicate formation of blood vessels in the brain were measured. To ensure the results, two additional groups of patients of approximately the same size were tested.
“Medication for angiogenesis already exists,” added Hansson. “If we can confirm our results in further studies, these drugs can be tested on Parkinson’s patients in the future.”
Before testing the drugs in clinical studies, the researchers plan on conducting an animal study to gain further knowledge of the mechanisms that are believed to cause problems for Parkinson’s patients and to enable selection of the most appropriate drugs to use.
The research was conducted in collaboration with the University of Gothenburg, Sweden, and the Mayo Clinic in Scottsdale, Arizona, US, amongst others. It was supported by the European Research Council, Swedish Research Council, Sweden’s Parkinson Foundation, MJ Fox Foundation for Parkinson Research, and Region Skåne through ALF funding, etc.
The findings have been published in the journal Neurology.
