Scientists reported they have developed a novel compound that appears to protect mice against developing movement problems associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD). The research, which might one day translate into a therapy that could halt the progression of PD and prevent symptoms of the disease, appears in the American Chemical Society’s Journal of Medicinal Chemistry.

Onyou Hwang, Ki Duk Park and colleagues explained that PD, which affects an estimated 4-10 million people worldwide, is a progressive movement disorder with no known cure. No one knows for certain what causes the disease, but research has shown that it’s linked with the loss of nerve cells in the brain that secrete dopamine, a chemical that is involved in movement and emotion. To find a potential new therapy for PD, the research team searched for a way to shield these brain cells.

They made 56 compounds and tested them to see which ones boosted the production of proteins that protect dopamine-releasing neurons from damage. Of those, one, which they call “12g,” proved to be the most active. Interestingly, it protected mice from developing PD-like symptoms in one laboratory test. “Taken together, 12g was found to effectively prevent the motor deficits that are associated with PD,” they said.

The authors acknowledged funding from the Korea Institute of Science and Technology, the Korea Health Technology R&D Project, the Ministry of Health and Welfare, the Korea Research Council of Fundamental Science and Technology and the National Research Foundation of Korea.