New model developed for the treatment of Parkinson's

A scientific study of tropical fish claims to have taken a major step forward in the understanding and treatment of Parkinson's disease.

Researchers at the Genome Institute of Singapore (GIS) say they have developed a model for understanding the development mechanism associated with the disease, according to an article in PLoS Genetics.

By studying the effects of the LRRK2 gene mutation in zebrafish, the scientists claim to now have a template that they can use for the development screening of future drug treatments.

Previous studies by the same researchers found that LRRK2 mutation was one of the most significant genetic causes of Parkinson's disease.

"This work shows how the use of a simple model system in fish can help decipher the root causes of a serious human disorder like Parkinson's disease," said Professor Edison Liu, Executive Director of the GIS.

Around one in 500 of the UK population is living with the disease, equating to about 120,000 people, according to Parkinson's UK.

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