The degenerative brain disorder currently affects one in 500 people in the UK.

Researchers now believe they have discovered crucial details about why, and who, the disease strikes - although a cure could still be years away.

They have identified how two defective genes interact to destroy cells in the brain, leading to the condition.

Worldwide interest

Dr Miguel Martins said: "We think that our results provide very exciting new findings relating to neurological disorders, in particular Parkinson's Disease.

"We seem to have found a link between two genes that have previously been associated with Parkinson's Disease."

He added: "The future in terms of cures for Parkinson's Disease lies definitely with stem cell technology and therapies as well as gene replacement technology.

The findings from the Leicester study have already attracted interest from the scientific community around the world.

Most sufferers are diagnosed in their sixties although one in 20 are diagnosed before the age of 40.