What is it that causes a normal protein to fold differently and cause Parkinson’s disease? Elizabeth Tracey reports

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A protein called alpha synuclein is normally found in our bodies, but it’s also found in a misfolded form that’s known to cause Parkinson’s disease. A recent study shows a skin biopsy can help make the diagnosis. Johns Hopkins Parkinson’s disease expert Ted Dawson says one thing that’s still unknown is why exactly the protein misfolds.

Dawson: There's a lot of work which shows that alpha synuclein can misfold and it’s still not entirely clear on what causes it to misfold. People who have dysbiosis, irritable bowel syndrome, delayed gastric emptying people that have those disorders have a substantially increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease later in life.  :27

Dawson says it’s thought the misfolded protein uses nerves to make its way to the brain and eventually cause Parkinson’s. At Johns Hopkins, I’m Elizabeth Tracey.