Archive · 30 Sep 2026
Study Links Flu-Triggered Molecular Changes to Parkinson’s Risk
Scientists in Hyderabad studied what happens inside cells after certain viral infections.
They looked at influenza and COVID-19, which are both caused by RNA viruses.
The researchers found molecular changes that are connected to damage seen in neurodegenerative diseases.
They also identified a possible safeguard that may help protect against this damage.
Some earlier studies have linked these infections with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease.
However, this study did not show that having the flu directly causes Parkinson’s.
It only suggests one way an infection might possibly contribute to the disease.
More research would be needed to establish a definite link.
A Hyderabad study examined how influenza and COVID-19 infections may trigger molecular changes linked to neurodegeneration.
Researchers at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology identified a molecular safeguard against some of this damage.
The study was conducted in Swasti Raychaudhuri’s laboratory and published in the peer-reviewed journal Cell Reports.
Influenza and COVID-19 are RNA-virus infections, meaning their genetic material is RNA rather than DNA.
The researchers said the mechanism might contribute to Parkinson’s disease but did not prove that infection causes the disease.
- Who
- Scientists from the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, working in Swasti Raychaudhuri’s laboratory.
- What
- A study investigated molecular changes caused by influenza and COVID-19 infections that may be linked to neurodegeneration and identified a possible molecular safeguard.
- When
- The study was published in the latest issue of the peer-reviewed journal Cell Reports; no specific date was provided.
- Where
- The research was conducted at the CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology in Hyderabad.
- Why
- To explore how RNA-virus infections may contribute to molecular processes associated with Parkinson’s disease and neurodegeneration.
Possible Parkinson’s Connection
Evidence Remains Inconclusive
What the study shows
Possible Parkinson’s Connection
The study identifies molecular changes after influenza and COVID-19 infections that are linked to neurodegeneration and says the mechanism might contribute to the viral etiology of Parkinson’s disease.
Evidence Remains Inconclusive
The researchers explicitly state that the findings do not prove that an infection ultimately causes Parkinson’s disease.
- Research institution
- CSIR-Centre for Cellular and Molecular Biology, Hyderabad
- Laboratory
- Swasti Raychaudhuri’s lab
- Journal
- Cell Reports
- Viruses studied
- Influenza and COVID-19
- Virus type
- RNA viruses
- Key finding
- The infections trigger molecular changes linked to neurodegeneration, and the study identifies a possible molecular safeguard.
- Study limitation
- The research does not demonstrate that an infection ultimately causes Parkinson’s disease.