Alpha-Synuclein in Parkinson's Disease: Progression, Forms, and Neuronal Dysfunction

Explore the complex role of alpha-synuclein (α-syn) in Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia in this 57-minute seminar from Labroots. Gain insights into the progression of Parkinson's disease pathology, focusing on α-syn aggregate accumulation and spreading in the nervous system. Examine various aberrant α-syn forms present in human tissue and their potential impact on neuronal function. Delve into a hypothesis explaining how α-syn aggregate accumulation in neurons leads to functional defects contributing to patient symptomatology, potentially occurring years before neuronal death. Discover how understanding these functional defects in viable neurons opens up possibilities for new therapeutic strategies to counteract dysfunctions, potentially easing symptoms and slowing disease progression. Learn about the different parts of the nervous system affected during progressive stages of Parkinson's disease, the structural and localization changes of α-syn during disease progression, and the potential for targeting specific neuronal dysfunctions caused by aberrant α-syn species accumulation.