New approach blocks hidden protein interaction to protect brain energy in Parkinson’s
Researchers have identified that alpha-synuclein binds to the mitochondrial enzyme ClpP, impairing energy production and accelerating neuron loss in Parkinson’s disease. They developed CS2, a decoy therapy that blocks this interaction and restores mitochondrial function, showing reduced inflammation and improved movement and cognition in human tissue, patient-derived neurons, and mouse models. The work points to a disease-modifying treatment targeting a root cause, with plans to advance toward human trials in the next five years.