Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in Screening
The present investigation aims to examine the role of α-synuclein seed amplification assays for screening Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, leading to symptoms such as tremors, bradyk...
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2024-11-01
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| Series: | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/11/757 |
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| author | Alan D. Kaye Kassady A. Perkinson Noah J. Spillers Alexis J. Vega Caylin J. Roberts Evan M. Downs Melissa M. Sheth David W. McGregor Shahab Ahmadzadeh Jibin Mathew Sahar Shekoohi |
| author_facet | Alan D. Kaye Kassady A. Perkinson Noah J. Spillers Alexis J. Vega Caylin J. Roberts Evan M. Downs Melissa M. Sheth David W. McGregor Shahab Ahmadzadeh Jibin Mathew Sahar Shekoohi |
| author_sort | Alan D. Kaye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | The present investigation aims to examine the role of α-synuclein seed amplification assays for screening Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, leading to symptoms such as tremors, bradykinesia, postural instability, dementia, and depression. It is classified as an α-synucleinopathy related to the role of α-synuclein aggregates in neuron degeneration. Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment without premortem diagnostic tests or imaging, often resulting in delayed detection and impaired symptom management. In this regard, our study explores a screening technique using an amplification assay to measure α-synuclein levels in cerebrospinal fluid, which could potentially identify early pathological changes and improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. While preliminary results are promising, further studies are needed to evaluate this approach’s accuracy and clinical feasibility. A review of numerous trials demonstrates that α-synuclein seeding amplification assays (SAA) are a highly reliable, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tool for PD. This assay offers a promising opportunity to improve early diagnosis and quantify severity, especially for asymptomatic individuals or those with a family history of PD, allowing for earlier intervention and more effective disease management. In summary, the emerging body of evidence supporting α-synuclein as a biomarker should allow patients with PD to be detected and treated sooner, enhancing patients’ quality of life and potentially changing the disease trajectory. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-e2647ba951444d35be4036e8b31748cb |
| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1467-3037 1467-3045 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2024-11-01 |
| publisher | MDPI AG |
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| series | Current Issues in Molecular Biology |
| spelling | doaj-art-e2647ba951444d35be4036e8b31748cb2025-08-20T02:28:08ZengMDPI AGCurrent Issues in Molecular Biology1467-30371467-30452024-11-014611127461275510.3390/cimb46110757Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in ScreeningAlan D. Kaye0Kassady A. Perkinson1Noah J. Spillers2Alexis J. Vega3Caylin J. Roberts4Evan M. Downs5Melissa M. Sheth6David W. McGregor7Shahab Ahmadzadeh8Jibin Mathew9Sahar Shekoohi10Department of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71103, USAEdward Via College of Osteopathic Medicine, Monroe, LA 71203, USASchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USAMedical City Weatherford, 713 E Anderson St, Weatherford, TX 76086, USASchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USASchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USASchool of Medicine, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, Shreveport, LA 71103, USADepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71103, USADepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71103, USADepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71103, USADepartment of Anesthesiology, Louisiana State University Health Sciences Center, 1501 Kings Highway, Shreveport, LA 71103, USAThe present investigation aims to examine the role of α-synuclein seed amplification assays for screening Parkinson’s disease. Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder caused by the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, leading to symptoms such as tremors, bradykinesia, postural instability, dementia, and depression. It is classified as an α-synucleinopathy related to the role of α-synuclein aggregates in neuron degeneration. Diagnosis relies on clinical assessment without premortem diagnostic tests or imaging, often resulting in delayed detection and impaired symptom management. In this regard, our study explores a screening technique using an amplification assay to measure α-synuclein levels in cerebrospinal fluid, which could potentially identify early pathological changes and improve diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes. While preliminary results are promising, further studies are needed to evaluate this approach’s accuracy and clinical feasibility. A review of numerous trials demonstrates that α-synuclein seeding amplification assays (SAA) are a highly reliable, sensitive, and specific diagnostic tool for PD. This assay offers a promising opportunity to improve early diagnosis and quantify severity, especially for asymptomatic individuals or those with a family history of PD, allowing for earlier intervention and more effective disease management. In summary, the emerging body of evidence supporting α-synuclein as a biomarker should allow patients with PD to be detected and treated sooner, enhancing patients’ quality of life and potentially changing the disease trajectory.https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/11/757α-synucleinParkinson’s disease screeningseedingamplification assay |
| spellingShingle | Alan D. Kaye Kassady A. Perkinson Noah J. Spillers Alexis J. Vega Caylin J. Roberts Evan M. Downs Melissa M. Sheth David W. McGregor Shahab Ahmadzadeh Jibin Mathew Sahar Shekoohi Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in Screening Current Issues in Molecular Biology α-synuclein Parkinson’s disease screening seeding amplification assay |
| title | Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in Screening |
| title_full | Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in Screening |
| title_fullStr | Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in Screening |
| title_full_unstemmed | Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in Screening |
| title_short | Parkinson’s Disease: A Narrative of the Evolving Understanding of the Role of α-Synuclein in Screening |
| title_sort | parkinson s disease a narrative of the evolving understanding of the role of α synuclein in screening |
| topic | α-synuclein Parkinson’s disease screening seeding amplification assay |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1467-3045/46/11/757 |
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