Study Rationale: Neuronal synuclein disease (NSD) is the underlying cause of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and similar disorders. Recently, new tests have allowed us to measure signs of NSD before symptoms arise, a phase that could be critical for understanding disease pathology and initiating treatment. This project aims to use state-of-the-art clinical tests to better understand how NSD interacts with other brain disorders, such as Alzheimer’s disease, to cause disabling neurological symptoms. We will focus on studying the different “stages” of NSD, from the early phases in which changes can only be detected using specialized tests to later stages when symptoms are obvious.
Hypothesis: We hypothesize that people with NSD and Alzheimer’s disease will have a faster and more severe clinical progression than those with NSD alone. We also hypothesize that NSD will show clearly defined stages, beginning with a buildup of alpha-synuclein, followed by death of vulnerable neurons and onset of characteristic symptoms.
Study Design: The study will data from the Swedish BioFINDER studies, which include more than 3000 participants ranging from people who are clinically healthy to those with parkinsonism and/or cognitive impairment. Each participant has been followed for many years and has undergone a variety of tests designed to assess biological and neurological changes found in NSD and Alzheimer’s disease. These include measurements of alpha-synuclein and neurodegeneration, as well as assessments of motor and cognitive functions. BioFINDER is one of the largest studies in the world measuring these types of clinical data.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease: The results of this study will likely improve the diagnosis of both NSD and Alzheimer’s disease and will help physicians render more accurate prognoses. This study will also provide important information that will help better design of clinical trials evaluating new drugs that are currently being developed to treat NSD.
Next Steps for Development: Before the results of our study are implemented in clinical practice and drug trials globally, we would like to test them in other diverse populations from other countries.