Oxford Study Finds Microglia Remove Parkinson’s Protein Clumps

Oxford researchers found that human microglia can selectively remove portions of toxic alpha-synuclein aggregates from dopamine-producing neurons through a process called trogocytosis, potentially protecting the neurons rather than destroying them. The laboratory findings point to a possible new way to address a hallmark of Parkinson’s disease, but do not establish a treatment for patients. Separately, early Phase 1 findings for the LRRK2-degrading drug ARV-102 included changes in a measure of eye movement and in cerebrospinal-fluid markers related to brain-cell function and inflammation. A new University of Arizona collaboration will compare brain cells derived from women and men with Parkinson’s to investigate biological differences that may help explain sex-related differences in the disease and address women’s underrepresentation in research.