Chinese scientists make breakthrough in blocking Parkinson’s progression

Chinese researchers from Huashan Hospital, affiliated with Fudan University in Shanghai, have identified a new therapeutic target for Parkinson's disease and discovered a promising small-molecule drug. This breakthrough could facilitate early intervention and potentially slow the disease's progression. Parkinson's disease, which affects around 3 million people in China, often starts with mild symptoms like a diminished sense of smell and sleep disturbances before progressing to severe motor issues. Current treatments mainly alleviate symptoms but don't halt disease progression. After five years of research, the team pinpointed FAM171A2 as a key gene involved in neurodegeneration. Using artificial intelligence, they screened over 7,000 approved compounds, identifying bemcentinib, an anti-cancer drug, as a promising candidate. This drug prevents the harmful interaction between FAM171A2 and a pathogenic protein associated with Parkinson's. The research has led to an international patent, and future efforts will focus on pre-clinical studies, drug development, and innovative therapies, including gene therapy.