Alterations in autophagy are thought to underlie various neurodegenerative diseases including Parkinson disease (PD). Previous studies have indicated that the PD gene leucine rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) is involved in this process, but its mechanism of action has remained unknown. Our recent work describes how LRRK2 acts through calcium-mediated events originating from acidic stores to regulate autophagy and cell survival, which may give rise to novel therapeutic strategies.