Alpha-synuclein pathology in the spinal cords of neurologically asymptomatic aged individuals

Neurology. 2006 Apr 11;66(7):1100-2. doi: 10.1212/01.wnl.0000204179.88955.fa.

Abstract

The authors assessed the frequency of spinal cord alpha-synuclein pathology in neurologically asymptomatic individuals older than 60 years of age (N = 106). Using alpha-synuclein immunohistochemistry, nine cases (8%) had incidental Lewy neurites in the intermediolateral column and at least some alpha-synuclein pathology in the dorsal motor nucleus of the vagus, locus ceruleus, and central raphe nucleus. Sparse alpha-synuclein pathology was also detected in the substantia nigra, basal forebrain, amygdala, or cortex in all but two cases.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged
  • Brain / pathology*
  • Humans
  • Lewy Bodies / pathology
  • Medical Records
  • Middle Aged
  • Motor Neurons / pathology
  • Neurons / pathology*
  • Spinal Cord / pathology*
  • alpha-Synuclein / analysis*

Substances

  • alpha-Synuclein