Researchers at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine have uncovered a hidden biological interaction that may help change the way Parkinson’s disease is treated. A team led by scientists including Xin Qi found that a toxic protein involved in Parkinson’s attaches to a vital enzyme and disrupts the cell’s energy supply, accelerating nerve cell damage in the brain. This insight goes beyond symptom relief and gets closer to understanding the core mechanisms of the disease itself. Building on this discovery, the researchers have developed a novel compound called CS2.

In experimental models including human brain tissue, patient-derived neurons and mice, CS2 acts like a decoy. It blocks the harmful interaction, helping restore energy function in cells and reducing inflammation. Early results show improvements in movement and cognitive performance. The team says this work points toward a new kind of therapy that protects healthy cells rather than only managing symptoms. Over the next few years the researchers plan to refine the treatment for human testing, expand studies on biomarkers linked to disease progression and work toward clinical trials. This research underlines the School of Medicine’s commitment to innovative, life-changing neurological research.