News Neuroscience

A very specific kind of brain cell dies off in people with Parkinson’s

Dopamine-making nerve cells may not be equally culpable in the disease after all

microscope image showing brain cells with dopamine in green and active AGTR1 gene in magenta

Certain human brain cells selectively die off in Parkinson’s disease.  Among cells that produce the chemical messenger dopamine (green), an active AGTR1 gene (labeled in magenta) sets these vulnerable cells apart.

Macosko Lab

By Laura Sanders

- More than 2 years ago

Deep in the human brain, a very specific kind of cell dies during Parkinson’s disease.