Blood α-Synuclein Separates Parkinson's Disease from Dementia with Lewy Bodies

Aggregation of misfolded α-synuclein (aSyn) within the brain is the pathologic hallmark of Lewy body diseases (LBDs), including Parkinson's disease (PD), and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) disease. Although evidence exists for aSyn "strains," conformations with distinct biological properties, biomarkers for PD versus DLB are lacking. Here, we used monoclonal antibodies selective for two different in vitro aSyn species - termed strain A and B - to evaluate human brain tissue, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), and plasma.

Using these antibodies, we characterized specific aSyn species in human specimens from neurologically normal individuals and individuals with LBD using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA), Western blot, and immunohistochemistry. We also characterized aSyn species immunoprecipitated from brain lysate or plasma with these antibodies using seed amplification assays (SAAs) and a cellular model.

Surprisingly, levels of strain A and B aSyn species were higher in plasma from individuals with PD compared to DLB in 2 independent cohorts. Lower levels of plasma aSyn strain A species predicted a faster rate of cognitive decline in individuals with PD. Furthermore, strain A and strain B aSyn species were undetectable in CSF, and their levels in brain versus plasma did not correlate. Moreover, plasma aSyn species isolated by aSyn strain antibodies could template aSyn fibrillization, and they could seed formation of aSyn inclusions in cells.

Our findings suggest that circulating plasma aSyn strains may impact LBD clinical presentation, particularly cognition. The enrichment of these aSyn species in plasma but not CSF also suggests a potential source outside the brain. ANN NEUROL 2025;98:682-698.