Interestingly, one study showed that the activation of Akt/mTOR signaling in the dopaminergic neurons of the substantia nigra mediated axon protection in the neurotoxin lesions of a 6-OHDA-induced model [172], suggesting the importance of the Akt/Rheb/mTOR axis to protect axons during PD development. This evidence concerns the gene MTOR and Parkinson disease.