https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/neuroscience-institute/news/parkinsons-gene-may-impair-how-new-neurons-are-made-throughout-our-lifetime Skip to main content * [ ] Close menu x Neuroscience Institute * Research + Research pillars o Translational o Computational and systems o Sensory and developmental + Harnessing advances in neuroscience o SITraN: Ten years of impact o News * People + People o Translational team o Computational and systems team o Sensory and developmental team * Facilities + Facilities o Translational facilities o Computational and systems facilities o Sensory and developmental facilities * About us + About us o News o Harnessing advances in neuroscience * Study + Study with us o Undergraduate courses o Postgraduate courses o PhD study o Department of Neuroscience * Connect + Contact o Partner with us o News Coronavirus (Covid-19): latest advice University of Sheffield homepage * Study + Courses o Undergraduate courses o Postgraduate taught courses o PhD study o Apprenticeships o Mature students o Online learning o TEFL and English as a second language + Studying at Sheffield o Ranking, reputation and history o Facilities o Teaching o Your career prospects + Student life o Students' Union - the UK's no. 1 o Clubs, societies and sport o Our city o Support + Accommodation o University residences o Rent o Apply for accommodation + Visit o Undergraduate open days o Postgraduate open days o International visits to your region + Apply o Undergraduate applications o Postgraduate applications o Applying as an international student o Visas and immigration + International students o Our international community o How to apply o Visas and immigration + Fees and funding o Undergraduate fees and funding o Postgraduate taught fees o Postgraduate taught funding o PhD fees o PhD scholarships o Contact us * Research + Expertise o Flagship institutes o Research centres o Our people o Nobel Laureates o Queen's Anniversary Prizes o Facilities + Impact o Our approach o Coronavirus: our research and innovation o Research features o REF 2014 + PhD study o Find a PhD o PhD projects directory o PhD scholarships o Support for current researchers + Contact us o Research partnerships and people * Collaborate + Partnerships o How we support business o Examples of business partners o Research centres, institutes and networks o Our role in the city and region + International o Worldwide Universities Network at Sheffield o We Are International campaign o Global opportunities and exchanges o Our International Faculty - CITY College, Thessaloniki + Schools and colleges o Virtual schools hub o Activities and events o Sustained programmes o Partnerships + Contact us o Research partnerships and people o Global Engagement team o Schools and Colleges Liaison team * About + About the University o News o Events o Sustainability at Sheffield o Our role in the city and region o Governance and management o Rankings o Queen's Anniversary Prizes o Nobel Prize winners + Departments and services o Academic departments o Faculties o Professional Services + Studying at Sheffield o About the city of Sheffield o Courses University of Sheffield homepage Neuroscience Institute Menu [?] * Research + Research pillars o Translational o Computational and systems o Sensory and developmental + Harnessing advances in neuroscience o SITraN: Ten years of impact o News * People + People o Translational team o Computational and systems team o Sensory and developmental team * Facilities + Facilities o Translational facilities o Computational and systems facilities o Sensory and developmental facilities * About us + About us o News o Harnessing advances in neuroscience * Study + Study with us o Undergraduate courses o Postgraduate courses o PhD study o Department of Neuroscience * Connect + Contact o Partner with us o News You are here * Home * Neuroscience Institute * News * Parkinson's gene may impair how new neurons are made throughout our lifetime 23 March 2021 Parkinson's gene may impair how new neurons are made throughout our lifetime A gene defect linked to Parkinson's disease may not only cause the early death of neurons, but also impair the process that generates neurons in the brain throughout our lifetime, a new study has revealed. Old and newly made dopamine-producing nerve cells in the zebrafish brain Old and newly made dopamine-producing nerve cells in the zebrafish brain --------------------------------------------------------------------- * A pioneering study, published in Scientific Reports, found that the Parkinson's gene PINK1 is important for the generation of dopamine-producing neurons throughout life, and is not just responsible for the premature death of these neurons * The international research, led by University of Sheffield's Neuroscience Institute, used two model systems to examine how neurons are produced throughout our lifetime * Parkinson's disease is a relentlessly progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects around 145,000 people in the UK A gene defect linked to Parkinson's disease may not only cause the early death of neurons, but also impair the process that generates neurons in the brain throughout our lifetime, a new study has revealed. The international study, led by the University of Sheffield's Neuroscience Institute, may have a significant impact on the future treatment of Parkinson's patients who develop the illness due to PINK1 defect or similar gene defects. The development of novel treatments and therapies to slow down disease progression, halt or reverse Parkinson's may now focus on enhancing the generation of new dopamine-producing neurons, rather than just trying to protect these neurons from dying later. The findings, published today (23 March 2021) in Scientific Reports, used two model systems to measure how inactivation of the PINK1 gene affects dopamine-producing neurons in the adult brain. Dopamine-producing neurons are the most severely affected brain cells in Parkinson's disease. It is typically thought that Parkinson's genes, such as PINK1, cause early death of these neurons, with symptoms developing when neuron numbers fall. However, here, researchers found that a deficiency in PINK1 resulted in fewer dopamine-producing neurons being made throughout life. Professor Oliver Bandmann, Professor of Movement Disorders Neurology at the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN), said: "Neurogenesis is the process by which new neurons are formed in the brain. Recent evidence suggests that this process is ongoing throughout life but the relevance of this is poorly understood in neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson's disease." "We know that mutations in the PINK1 gene cause an early onset, inherited form of Parkinson's disease. If we can further our understanding about the impact of this genetic mutation on the dopamine-producing neurons we can develop new therapeutic approaches that aim to mitigate those effects." In collaboration with the University of Luxembourg, researchers used two complementary model systems to examine how neurons are reproduced throughout our lifetime. Professor Marysia Placzek, Professor of Developmental Neurobiology in the Department of Biomedical Science, said: "This study attests to the power of using simple model organisms for pre-clinical translational research. We used the zebrafish to demonstrate that dopamine-producing neurons are generated into adulthood at a rate that decreases with age and that PINK1-deficiency impairs neurogenesis of these neurons, significantly in early adult life. Our international collaborators then confirmed these results in a human organoid cell model." The observation of impaired adult dopaminergic neurogenesis in PINK1 deficiency in two complementing model systems may have significant consequences for future therapeutic approaches in Parkinson's disease. Future research will aim to identify the precise mechanisms that link Parkinson's genes to neurogenesis. This will allow us to explore the development of gene therapy or small molecule approaches to enhance neurogenesis in the brain of patients with Parkinson's. The development of new therapies for brain diseases like Parkinson's is the main focus of the Sheffield Institute for Translational Neuroscience (SITraN). The research was funded by the Medical Research Council (MRC), Parkinson's UK and the Wellcome Trust. Parkinson's disease is the second most common neurodegenerative disease, with approximately 10 million people affected worldwide. Currently, only symptomatic treatment options are available to patients. The University of Sheffield launched a sustained fundraising effort for Parkinson's disease research at the end of 2019. Since then, Sheffield staff, students, alumni and the general public have come together to raise more than PS350,000 so far. The ongoing efforts of this campaign are set to continue as Sheffield dedicates itself to backing the next breakthrough. 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