A new research study has begun at the Cyprus Institute of Neurology & Genetics, which is funded by The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. This research program will investigate the changes in mitochondrial DNA as diagnostic and progression biomarkers of Parkinson's disease.
The research study will be held by the supervision of Dr Eleni Zamba-Papanicolaou (Senior Neurologist, Neurology Clinic D) and Dr Andreas Hadjisavvas (Associate Professor, Molecular Pathology and Electron Microscopy department).
It is already known that DNA changes in mitochondria — the powerhouses of the cells — can affect the risk of Parkinson's and other neurodegenerative diseases. According to recent studies, changes in DNA, such as methylation — the attachment of the chemical methyl — can serve as PD biomarkers, helping identify individuals at risk of PD and predict disease progression. In this study, we aim to identify PD biomarkers in mitochondria. The study will compare the mtDNA of 180 people with PD with that of 360 healthy volunteers. The levels of methylation will be evaluated in both groups of participants, and differences in methylation levels between the two groups will be identified. We will also investigate whether these differences in methylation levels change as the disease progresses. This investigation will involve two small subgroups of participants: 10 people with the fastest and 10 people with the slowest disease progression. Biomarkers based on mtDNA methylation will aid in early PD diagnosis. These biomarkers will also make possible the use of interventions specific to the course of disease (personalized therapy). Lastly, the discovery of changes in mtDNA associated with Parkinson's, such as methylation, will open avenues for development of new treatment strategies, since changes in methylation are largely reversible.