A newly conducted research by Cedars-Sinai points to the possibility of those showing the signs of Parkinson disease before the age of 50, being born with the disease, which went undetected for decades. The research suggests a drug that might help correct these disease process.

Parkinson’s is a brain disease where brain neurons that make dopamine, a substance that helps co-ordinate muscle movements, become impaired or die. Symptoms include slowness of movement, rigid muscles, tremors and loss of balance.

During the research, the researchers came across two abnormalities in the dopamine neurons. One, accumulation of protein called alpha-synuclein, which occurs in most forms of Parkinson’s disease. Two, malfunctioning lysosomes, cell structures that act as ‘trash cans’ for the cells to break down and dispose proteins, which could cause build-up of alpha-synuclein.

The technique that the research team followed allowed them to see how well the dopamine neurons might have functioned from the very start of a patient’s life. The investigators also tested a number of drugs that could reverse the abnormalities. They found that a drug called PEP005, reduced the elevated levels of alpha-synuclein in the dopamine neurons.