New Finding on Parkinson’s Gene Mutation Alters View of What Causes the Disease

Scientists report that the most common Parkinson's gene mutation may change how immune cells react to generic infections like colds, which in turn trigger the inflammatory reaction in the brain that causes Parkinson's. Their study (“ Mutant LRRK2 mediates peripheral and central immune responses leading to neurodegeneration in vivo ”),  published in Brain, contradicts the long-held view that’s Parkinson's was a disease that starts in the brain, destroying motion c