On April 9, 2025, a new study from researchers at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine has been published in the journal Nature Communications, revealing significant findings related to neurodegenerative diseases. The study, led by Dr. Gareth Thomas, PhD, focuses on an enzyme called dual leucine-zipper kinase (DLK), which is implicated in the progressive neuronal loss seen in conditions like Parkinson’s disease and Alzheimer’s.
Dr. Thomas, an Associate Professor of Neural Sciences in the Center for Neural Development and Repair, and his team have developed a strategy to selectively inhibit DLK in damaged neurons. This approach helps to protect against neuronal degeneration while maintaining enzyme function in healthy neurons. The study’s significance lies in its potential to renew interest in DLK inhibition as a viable treatment for neurodegenerative disorders.
The research highlights an urgent need for novel strategies as the prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases, such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, is expected to increase significantly by 2040. Parkinson’s News Today has been providing ongoing coverage of Dr. Thomas’s innovative research.
