Hyderabad CCMB Study Links RNA Viruses to Parkinson’s Disease Risks
· India · Indian Express, Hindustan Times
A study conducted by the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad has identified a potential molecular link between RNA virus infections like influenza and COVID-19 and Parkinson's disease. Published in the journal Cell Reports, the research shows that genetic material from RNA viruses can fold into structures called rG4s that interact with the protein α-Synuclein to form harmful brain clumps. However, the study's authors emphasize that while this mechanism may contribute to viral-linked neurodegeneration, it does not prove that an infection directly causes Parkinson's disease. The research team also identified DDX39A as a cellular protein safeguard that helps unfold viral RNA and slows the formation of these toxic protein deposits. The exact long-term clinical implications for patients recovering from viral infections remain under investigation.
Why it matters
The findings open new avenues for understanding how common viral infections might influence the long-term risk of neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's disease.
Read the original report — Indian Express
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