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Parkinson's: a syndrome rather than a disease?
Nataliya Titova1, C Padmakumar2, Simon J G Lewis3
1Federal State Budgetary Educational Institution of Higher Education, N.I. Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Healthcare of the Russian Federation, Moscow, Russia.
Journal of Neural Transmission (Vienna, Austria : 1996)
|December 29, 2016
Summary
Parkinson's disease involves more than motor symptoms, affecting multiple organs and neurotransmitter systems. Research suggests it may be a syndrome, not just a disease, requiring new treatment approaches.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Pathology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology involves alpha-synuclein misfolding, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Degeneration of non-dopaminergic pathways contributes to non-motor symptoms throughout PD progression.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the complex pathology of Parkinson's disease beyond motor deficits.
- To highlight the potential of non-motor subtypes for targeted therapies.
- To re-evaluate Parkinson's as a multi-system disorder.
Main Methods:
- Review of emerging concepts in Parkinson's disease pathology.
- Analysis of non-motor symptoms and proposed clinical subtypes.
- Consideration of alpha-synuclein accumulation in peripheral organs.
Main Results:
- Parkinson's disease involves diverse pathologies including alpha-synuclein, neuroinflammation, and mitochondrial dysfunction.
- Non-motor symptoms and subtypes are increasingly recognized.
- Alpha-synuclein pathology extends to peripheral organs, indicating a multi-organ disorder.
Conclusions:
- Parkinson's disease is a complex syndrome affecting central and peripheral nervous systems.
- The multi-neurotransmitter and multi-organ nature of PD necessitates a broader therapeutic strategy.
- Considering PD as a syndrome may lead to novel, subtype-specific treatments.
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