Unraveling Parkinson's disease: The mystery of mitochondria and the role of aging.

ABSTRACT: Parkinson's disease (PD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder that poses significant burden on patients and families. Its exact cause is unknown, resulting in limited effective treatments. Mitochondrial dysfunction, linked to genetics, aging, oxidative stress, and environmental factors, is central to PD. Healthy elderly individuals have a compensatory mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) mechanism in brain cells, but this mechanism is impaired in PD patients, leading to mtDNA reduction, respiratory chain dysfunction, decreased adenosine triphosphate (ATP) synthesis, and inadequate neuron energy. Aging increases oxidative stress, impairing mitochondrial function. Mitochondrial dysfunction in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra causes neuronal loss and disease progression. Aging microgl

SUBMITTER: Liu T 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12719679 | biostudies-literature | 2026 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature