Parkinson's disease brain cells studied

ATLANTA, Aug. 16 (UPI) -- A U.S. study suggests the loss of two types of brain cells -- not just one as previously thought -- might trigger Parkinson's disease symptoms.

The Emory University mouse model study showed a link between the loss of both norepinephrine and dopamine neurons and the delayed onset of symptoms associated with Parkinson's. It was originally thought the loss of only dopamine neurons triggered symptoms. Dopamine is a neurotransmitter critical for coordinating movement.

Results of the study by Emory graduate student Karen Rommelfanger and Professors David Weinshenker and Gary Miller, along with Gaylen Edwards and Kimberly Freeman at the University of Georgia, are reported in the early online edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences and will appear in the journal's Aug. 21 print edition.