A detailed analysis of the structure of alpha-synuclein clumps suggests that Parkinson’s is a systemic disease, whose characteristic protein aggregates can move about inside the brain and migrate beyond the central nervous system, according to a new research. This finding may help in better understanding why Parkinson’s patients experience symptoms other…

Insoluble alpha-synuclein protein has long been thought to be the main component of Parkinson’s hallmark Lewy bodies, but researchers have now reported these abnormal aggregates are also made of cell membrane fragments, fat-like substances, and other cellular components. This finding was reported in a study, “Lewy pathology in…

Editor’s note: This column discusses suicide. Pivotal events in my life have piqued my interest in Lewy bodies. The first event was on March 15, 2015, when my life partner, Steve, killed himself. The second was my diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease in November 2015. My fascination with Lewy bodies…

A newly developed rat model combining elevated levels of alpha synuclein — a key protein in both Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) and dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) — and related pathological changes may provide new insights into both disorders, according to a new study. The research, “…

The levels of specific protein biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — the liquid surrounding the brain and spinal cord — can distinguish patients with Parkinson’s disease dementia (PDD) from those with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) regardless of dementia stage, according to a new study. The research, “…

How cell surface proteins participate in spreading, from one cell to another, misfolded proteins related to neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s, possibly aiding in the progression of these disorders, was seen in early research. The study, “Specific glycosaminoglycan chain length and sulfation patterns are required for cell…

A biopsy of the submandibular gland — located beneath the floor of the mouth — has been proven effective in autopsies to diagnose Parkinson’s disease, but scientists are now studying it as a diagnostic tool during life to identify dementia with Lewy bodies, an often misdiagnosed condition. It is also much less…

For the first time, researchers have identified the point at which alpha-synuclein – the protein whose aggregation leads to Parkinson’s disease – becomes toxic. The findings, published in the journal PNAS, shed new light on the toxicity processes leading to disease development and might provide clues in the…

Five genes appear to be involved in the onset and development of Lewy body dementia (LBD), a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by toxic protein clumps, known as Lewy bodies, inside brain cells, a study by a branch of the National Institutes of Health reported. Some of these genes are also associated…

A variant of the apolipoprotein (APOE) protein, called APOE4, has been shown to directly affect Lewy body dementias, such as Parkinson’s disease. Two separate studies, published simultaneously, found that APOE4 directly regulates levels of alpha-synuclein, which clumps  to form the nerve-damaging Lewy…