Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of dopamine-generating neurons, with the inflammatory pathology leading up to that issue thought to be driven by the spread of misfolded α-synuclein. Dysfunctional mitochondrial quality control can make these dopamine-generating neurons more vulnerable to the underlying pathology, however, and thus a fraction of Parkinson’s disease arises in people with mutations that cause this sort of dysfunction. That has directed researchers towards mitochondrial function as an important factor in the progression of the condition, but it will…
Synaptic Dysfunction Precedes the Death of Neurons in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson’s disease is characterized by the loss of dopamine-generating neurons, with the inflammatory pathology leading up to that issue thought to be driven by the spread of misfolded α-synuclein. Dysfunctional mitochondrial quality control can make these dopamine-generating neurons more vulnerable to the underlying pathology, however, and thus a fraction of Parkinson’s disease arises in people with mutations that cause this sort of dysfunction. That has directed researchers towards mitochondrial function as an important factor in the progression of the condition, but it will…