Researchers at Heriot-Watt University have discovered a direct connection between type 2 diabetes and one gene causing Parkinson's disease, a debilitating, neurogenerative condition. Turns out the biochemical changes resulting from type 2 diabetes turn off the PINK1 gene. Loss of PINK1 gene function is one established cause of Parkinson's.
Lead researcher, Professor James Timmons, explained this is the first time a connection between type 2 and Parkinson's has been determined at the molecular level, as opposed to statistical associations between the two diseases based on population studies.
Researchers recommend the obvious -- keep fit and healthy to ward off type 2 diabetes and you may keep Parkinson's out of reach, too.
1. The connection between depression and diabetes has had a personal link for me since both run on my mothers side of the family, and my mother has Parkinson's as well.
If I was still in a lab, I'd buy the oligos myself and PCR....
Posted at 11:31PM on Jun 20th 2007 by madbard