- A new study confirms that a common virus, Theiler’s murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), can trigger Parkinson’s-like brain damage and movement problems in animal models.
- The TMEV model is a game-changer as it uses a nontoxic viral infection instead of gene modifications or toxicants, better mimicking potential human disease origins.
- Infection with TMEV led to loss of dopamine-producing brain cells, slower movement and coordination, and gait abnormalities, similar to symptoms in Parkinson’s patients.
- This research supports the long-held theory that viruses, through brain inflammation, can initiate Parkinson’s, alongside genetic and environmental factors.
- Future studies will compare TMEV with standard models, search for early biomarkers, and examine immune responses to viruses in Parkinson’s development.