Metformin rescues Parkinson's disease phenotypes caused by hyperactive mitochondria.

Metabolic dysfunction occurs in many age-related neurodegenerative diseases, yet its role in disease etiology remains poorly understood. We recently discovered a potential causal link between the branched-chain amino acid transferase and the neurodegenerative movement disorder Parkinson's disease (PD). RNAi-mediated knockdown of is known to recapitulate PD-like features, including progressive motor deficits and neurodegeneration with age, yet the underlying mechanisms have remained unknown.