Parkinson’s disease (PD), affecting over 10 million people globally, is a complex neurodegenerative disorder marked by tremors, rigidity, and motor dysfunction. While current treatments manage symptoms, they don’t halt disease progression.
Recent research highlights a multifactorial pathogenesis involving dopaminergic neuron loss, α-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, and chronic neuroinflammation. Genetic mutations like LRRK2 and oxidative stress pathways also play key roles.
Innovative models using induced pluripotent stem cells (iPSCs) and brain organoids now allow scientists to replicate human PD pathology more accurately. These models are revolutionizing drug discovery and paving the way for personalized therapies that target the disease at its molecular roots.
This precision approach could transform how we treat Parkinson’s – shifting from symptom management to disease modification.