[Neuroplasticity and Parkinson's disease]

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Neurobiology
• Neurology

Background:

• Neuroplasticity, the brain's ability to reorganize, is increasingly recognized in the adult central nervous system (CNS).
• Idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD), a neurodegenerative disorder, exhibits significant neuroplastic changes.
• Understanding these changes is crucial for developing effective IPD treatments.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the modes of plastic changes occurring during the course of idiopathic Parkinson's disease (IPD).
• To illustrate these changes using recent literature data, considering both disease progression and treatment effects.
• To explore the potential of neuroplasticity as a basis for future therapeutic strategies in IPD.

Main Methods:

• Literature review of recent data on neuroplasticity in the context of IPD.
• Analysis of plastic changes resulting from dopaminergic denervation.
• Examination of plastic changes induced by dopaminergic treatment.

Main Results:

• Dopaminergic denervation in IPD leads to hyperactivity of remaining dopaminergic neurons and increased cholinergic innervation.
• Enhancement of corticostriatal glutamatergic synaptic activity is observed at the striatal level due to denervation.
• Dopaminergic treatment alters the phosphorylation state of striatal glutamate receptors and causes internalization of D1 Dopamine receptors.

Conclusions:

• Neuroplasticity plays a significant role in the pathophysiology of idiopathic Parkinson's disease.
• Both the disease process (dopaminergic denervation) and its treatment induce distinct plastic changes in the CNS.
• Harnessing neuroplasticity offers a rational foundation for developing novel therapeutic interventions for IPD.