Researchers uncover startling new clue in the hunt for Parkinson’s cause

Parkinson’s disease affects more than 10 million people around the world. It’s a progressive brain disorder that causes symptoms like shaking, slow movement, stiff muscles, and balance problems. Doctors still don’t know the exact cause of Parkinson’s. They believe it happens due to a mix of genetic and environmental factors.

Scientists from Northwestern University have now found a possible new clue. They discovered a virus called Human Pegivirus (HPgV) in the brains of people who had Parkinson’s. HPgV is a common virus that usually causes no symptoms. But researchers think it might have a hidden role in triggering Parkinson’s, as per the National Geographic report.

What the study found

The study tested brain samples from 10 people who had Parkinson’s after death, and also from 14 people without Parkinson’s, matched by age and gender. HPgV was found in 5 of the Parkinson’s brains — but in none of the control brains.


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To support their findings, scientists also tested blood from people in different stages of Parkinson’s. They found that those who had both Parkinson’s and HPgV had lower levels of an inflammatory protein called IL-4. IL-4 can either increase or decrease inflammation depending on the situation, as stated by the National Geographic report.

Patients with a Parkinson’s-related gene mutation reacted differently to HPgV. Their immune systems responded in a unique way compared to patients without that mutation. This shows a possible link between genes and the environment, says Dr. Margaret Ferris, a neurologist from Stanford University who wasn’t involved in the study.

Viruses may play a bigger role than we thought

Parkinson’s is very hard to study because it develops slowly over many years. It’s tough to detect in early stages or predict who will get it. There doesn’t seem to be a single cause for Parkinson’s disease. “It is likely multifactorial,” says Dr. William Ondo, a neurologist from Houston Methodist Hospital. He explains that different people might have different triggers, as per the National Geographic report.

Every patient may follow a different path to developing Parkinson’s. “Everyone is on their own path,” says Dr. Erin Furr-Stimming from UTHealth Houston. Viruses and brain disorders might be more connected than we thought. Past studies show that viral infections may trigger diseases like Alzheimer’s, multiple sclerosis, and Parkinson’s.

How viruses might harm the brain

For example, Epstein-Barr virus was recently linked to multiple sclerosis. Other viruses like West Nile virus and Japanese Encephalitis virus have also caused Parkinson-like symptoms. Inflammation in the brain can lead to brain disorders, according to the National Geographic report.

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“Any amount of inflammation in the brain can trigger a number of cascades that lead to the loss of normal brain function,” says Dr. Barbara Hanson, co-author of the study. Viral infections might cause neurodegeneration in multiple ways — They could directly damage brain cells or cause misfolded proteins to build up, which harms the brain.

But the study doesn’t prove that HPgV causes Parkinson’s. It just shows a possible connection that needs to be researched further. “This is not a cause-and-effect discovery,” says Dr. Joseph Jankovic from Baylor College of Medicine. He says the study should be repeated with more patients to confirm the results, as stated by National Geographic.

FAQs

Q1. Can a virus cause Parkinson’s disease?
Scientists found a virus (HPgV) in Parkinson’s patients’ brains, but it’s not proven that the virus causes the disease.

Q2. What virus was found in Parkinson’s patients' brains?
Researchers found Human Pegivirus (HPgV) in the brains of some people with Parkinson’s, suggesting a possible link.