New Research Links Parkinson’s Disease to Heart Problems, Offering Hope for New Treatments

Parkinson’s disease is widely known for affecting movement and the brain, but new research suggests it may also impact the heart. Scientists from the University of Surrey have discovered harmful protein clumps in nerve cells near the heart, potentially paving the way for new treatment options. The Key Discovery Researchers studied mice with Parkinson’s-like symptoms and found a buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein in a nerve cluster near the heart, known as the stellate ganglia. This nerve group is part of the autonomic nervous system, which controls heart rate and rhythm. Alarmingly, 27% of the neurons in this area contained toxic protein clumps similar to those found in the brains of Parkinson’s patients. This suggests that Parkinson’s could also be interfering with heart function, not just movement and cognitive abilities. Why This Matters Professor Kamalan Jeevaratnam, lead researcher from the University of Surrey, explains, “Our study confirms that Parkinson’s disease is linked to heart problems, giving us fresh insights into how the disease affects the nervous system beyond the brain. Just like in the brain, the buildup of alpha-synuclein appears to damage heart-controlling nerves.” How the Study Was Conducted To examine this link, scientists used genetically modified mice that produce a mutated form of alpha-synuclein. They carefully extracted and studied the stellate ganglia, using special fluorescent stains to track the spread of the harmful protein. What This Means for Treatment The discovery opens new possibilities for managing Parkinson’s symptoms beyond the brain. Postgraduate researcher Bonn Lee, who co-authored the study, believes that targeting these toxic protein clumps in heart nerves could help reduce symptoms and improve quality of life for people with Parkinson’s. “Our next step is to collaborate with industry partners to explore whether stopping or slowing this protein buildup outside the brain could lead to new treatment options,” Lee said. The Future of Parkinson’s Research This breakthrough suggests that Parkinson’s may be more than just a brain disorder—it could also be a disease of the entire nervous system. Understanding how it affects the heart may lead to new treatments that address a wider range of symptoms, helping people live better lives despite the disease.