The build up of protein deposits called Lewy bodies in the brains of people with Parkinson's disease is thought to be a key step in the development of this progressive neurological disorder, which affects up to 120,000 Britons.
Lewy bodies are mostly made up of tiny fibres (fibrils) formed from a protein called alpha-synuclein. US researchers have managed to prevent the formation of further fibrils and break up existing fibrils in test tube experiments by exposing them to an antibiotic called rifampicin, which has been used to treat TB and leprosy.
The researchers are currently performing more tests on cell cultures and mice to see if they can apply the findings of this study.
