Regional differences in synaptic degeneration are linked to alpha-synuclein burden and axonal damage in Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.

ABSTRACT: Regional differences in synaptic degeneration may underlie differences in clinical presentation and neuropathological disease progression in Parkinson's Disease (PD) and Dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). Here, we mapped and quantified synaptic degeneration in cortical brain regions in PD, PD with dementia (PDD) and DLB, and assessed whether regional differences in synaptic loss are linked to axonal degeneration and neuropathological burden. We included a total of 47 brain donors, 9 PD, 12 PDD, 6 DLB and 20 non-neurological controls. Synaptophysin⁺ and SV2A⁺ puncta were quantified in eight cortical regions using a high throughput microscopy approach. Neurofilament light chain (NfL) immunoreactivity, Lewy body (LB) density, phosphorylated-tau and amyloid-β load were also

SUBMITTER: Frigerio I 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC10765668 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Jan

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature