Orchestrating pathogenesis: copper ions as the conductor of molecular dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease and therapeutic avenues

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta and the abnormal aggregation of α-synuclein (α-Syn) into Lewy bodies. While these pathological features arise from genetic susceptibility, environmental exposures, and age-related cellular deteriorations, the precise interactions among these factors remain incompletely understood. Mounting evidence implicates that copper ions are playing a critical role in PD pathogenesis, particularly in regulating dopaminergic neuron survival and the aggregation dynamics of α-Syn.