Beijing: A groundbreaking study from Wuhan University in China has revealed a shocking potential origin of Parkinson’s disease: the kidneys, not the brain. Published in Nature Neuroscience, the research challenges long-held beliefs that Parkinson’s begins with dopamine-producing nerve cell loss in the brain. Instead, scientists found that abnormal alpha-synuclein (a-Syn) protein clumps—a known disease hallmark—may first form in the kidneys.
These clumps then appear to travel through the bloodstream, eventually reaching the brain and triggering neurodegeneration. The study involved tests on genetically engineered mice and human tissue samples. Protein clumps were found in the kidneys of 10 out of 11 Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia patients.
Strikingly, 17 out of 20 patients with chronic kidney disease also showed similar protein buildup despite having no neurological symptoms. In mice, healthy kidneys cleared the proteins, while those with kidney impairment showed brain buildup.
The results suggest that reducing these proteins in the blood could slow or prevent brain damage. According to the U.S. National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, over 1 million Americans are affected by Parkinson’s. This discovery opens new avenues for early detection and kidney-focused treatment strategies.
