Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that primarily affects the motor system and thus movement control. It is the second most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s disease and affects more than 10 million people worldwide. PD progresses gradually over years or decades, with symptoms that worsen over time.
What Causes PD?
The specific causes of Parkinson's disease remain largely unknown, but involve the dysfunction and death of neurons that produce dopamine—a chemical integral to coordinating movement. This decrease in dopamine levels causes irregular brain activity, leading to many of the characteristic symptoms of PD. The prevailing theory among scientists is that both genetic predispositions and environmental factors contribute to the disease, particularly in idiopathic PD (iPD), which does not run in families.
Our Science
Extensive research over the years has uncovered several cellular processes that malfunction in PD and lead to α-synuclein aggregation, mitochondrial dysfunction, endoplasmic reticulum stress, impaired autophagy, and disrupted calcium homeostasis. New therapeutic approaches have increasingly focused on these pathways, especially those informed by genetic risk factors. However, evidence shows that many of these pathways are also affected in idiopathic PD where no genetic mutations are present.
Acurex has taken advantage of it's novel discoveries to develop therapeutics specifically designed to treat the underlying cause of PD and improve quality of life for PD patients.
