They identify a natural hormone that protects neurons from Parkinson's damage

Málaga (Spain).- A team of researchers has discovered that a hormone that is naturally in the human body helps protect neurons from the damage caused by Parkinson's. These specialists, from the Biomedical Research Institute of Malaga (IBIMA) and the University of Malaga, in the Spanish region of Andalusia, have identified that the hormone IGF-II shows a potent protective effect on nerve cells damaged by the disease.

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The finding, published in the scientific journal Journal of Advanced Research, opens a new path to develop possible treatments that not only alleviate the symptoms, but also stop the progression of Parkinson's, according to reports this Thursday from the regional authorities of Andalusia. In the laboratory, they have found that the hormone, similar to the insulin produced by the human body, acts as a shield for neurons and have seen that when nerve cells are exposed to it, they resist the damage that would normally destroy them in Parkinson's disease. Specifically, it improves the functioning of the mitochondria, which are like the "batteries" of the cells; it defends the DNA because it activates mechanisms for repairing genetic material, which helps to avoid serious failures that can cause the cell to die; and it slows down the processes that lead to the self-destruction of neurons when they are damaged. The research team has been studying since 2007 how IGF-II can be used to combat neurodegenerative diseases. In 2021, they demonstrated in animals that this hormone could protect the brain. The study has been carried out with the collaboration of researchers from the University of Modena and Reggio Emilia, in Italy, and has been funded by the University of Malaga, the Spanish Ministry of Science and European funds.