Title:Neurodegenerative Disorders and the Current State, Pathophysiology, and
Management of Parkinson’s Disease
Volume: 21
Issue: 7
Author(s): Rahul and Yasir Siddique*
Affiliation:
- Drosophila Transgenic Laboratory, Section of Genetics, Department of Zoology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Aligarh
Muslim University, Aligarh, 202002, Uttar Pradesh, India
Keywords:
Neurodegenerative diseases, α-Synuclein, Parkinson’s disease, dopamine, prognostic, therapeutic strategy.
Abstract: In the last few decades, major knowledge has been gained about pathophysiological aspects
and molecular pathways behind Parkinson’s Disease (PD). Based on neurotoxicological
studies and postmortem investigations, there is a general concept of how environmental toxicants
(neurotoxins, pesticides, insecticides) and genetic factors (genetic mutations in PD-associated proteins)
cause depletion of dopamine from substantia nigra pars compacta region of the midbrain and
modulate cellular processes leading to the pathogenesis of PD. α-Synuclein, a neuronal protein accumulation
in oligomeric form, called protofibrils, is associated with cellular dysfunction and neuronal
death, thus possibly contributing to PD propagation. With advances made in identifying loci
that contribute to PD, molecular pathways involved in disease pathogenesis are now clear, and introducing
therapeutic strategy at the right time may delay the progression. Biomarkers for PD have
helped monitor PD progression; therefore, personalized therapeutic strategies can be facilitated. In
order to further improve PD diagnostic and prognostic accuracy, independent validation of biomarkers
is required.
