Nosology of Parkinson's disease: looking for the way out of a quagmire

Neuron. 2005 Aug 18;47(4):479-82. doi: 10.1016/j.neuron.2005.07.021.

Abstract

The discovery of SNCA mutations pathogenic for autosomal-dominant Lewy body Parkinson's disease (PD) in 1997 heralded a revolution in understanding the molecular and genetic basis of PD. Indeed, it now is clear that Lewy body PD is one of many neurodegenerative parkinsonian disorders that result from nigrostriatal degeneration caused by diverse mechanisms. However, to capitalize on these new insights and facilitate efforts to improve the diagnosis and therapy of neurodegenerative movement disorders, it is timely to define a nosology for these diseases that is based on their genetic and molecular underpinnings, as proposed here.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.
  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Genetic Predisposition to Disease / genetics
  • Humans
  • Mutation / genetics
  • Nerve Degeneration / genetics*
  • Nerve Tissue Proteins / genetics*
  • Parkinson Disease / classification*
  • Parkinson Disease / genetics*
  • Substantia Nigra / metabolism
  • Substantia Nigra / pathology
  • Substantia Nigra / physiopathology
  • Synucleins
  • Terminology as Topic
  • alpha-Synuclein

Substances

  • Nerve Tissue Proteins
  • SNCA protein, human
  • Synucleins
  • alpha-Synuclein