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Some people may be more susceptible to Parkinson's disease because of glitches in their immune systems, scientists say.
A study of patients with the brain disorder found they were more likely than healthy people to carry a gene mutation thought to disrupt how the immune system works.
The finding suggests some cases of the disease could be caused by the immune system running amok and attacking healthy tissues or failing to fight infections that leave people susceptible to the condition.
The study is the first to use evidence from the human genome to confirm the long-held suspicion that the immune system plays a role in the disease.
"People have speculated about a link between the immune system and Parkinson's disease for some time and this study suggests that the link is real," said Cyrus Zabetian, a co-author on the study and neurologist at the University of Washington in Seattle.
Parkinson's disease is caused by a steady dying-off of brain cells that produce a chemical called dopamine. One in 500 people in Britain have the condition, which causes tremors and difficulty with movement. Most are diagnosed after the age of 60.
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Source: Google News
Date: 16/08/2010