Mechanism of familial Parkinson’s disease clarified in fruit fly model

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, with up to 10 million people affected worldwide. PD is characterized by progressive increase in movement disability and impaired balance, which are resulted from the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra of the midbrain. While most PD occurs sporadically, about 15% of cases are hereditary and linked to genetic mutations. Although the motor symptoms partly respond dopamine replenishment therapy, there is still a need to develop disease-modifying therapy able to delay or prevent illness.