Parkinson's severity linked to brain inflammation

Featured Article Academic Journal Main Category: Parkinson's Disease Also Included In: Neurology / Neuroscience Article Date: 29 Aug 2013 - 8:00 PDT

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A new study found markers of inflammation in the cerebrospinal fluid that protects the brain and spine from injury, linking these markers to symptoms like fatigue, depression and anxiety in patients with Parkinson's disease. Researchers say the findings may lead to new ways of treating the complex riddle of Parkinson's.

Lena Brundin, now an associate professor at the College of Human Medicine at Michigan State University, carried out the research as part of a team from Lund University in Sweden, Skne University Hospital in Sweden and the Mayo Clinic College of Medicine in Jacksonville, Florida.

The team measured a number of inflammatory markers in fluid samples of patients with Parkinson's and in a control group without the disease.

Prof. Brundin told the press this week:

"The degree of neuroinflammation was significantly associated with more severe depression, fatigue, and cognitive impairment even after controlling for factors such as age, gender and disease duration."

A report on the study is available to read online in Brain, Behavior, and Immunity.

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Parkinson's severity linked to brain inflammation