Synuclein and the Coelacanth

The Molecular and Evolutionary Origins of Parkinson's Disease

James M. Gruschus

• Publisher: Academic Press
• Year: 2021
• Print ISBN:
  9780323857079
• eBook ISBN:
  9780323899680
• Topic: Biological Sciences
• Subtopic: Neuroscience
• Index: Biological Sciences

Most neurodegenerative diseases have animal parallels such as Alzheimer's in chimpanzees, multiple sclerosis in macaques, Lou Gehrig's disease in dogs, but nothing like Parkinson's has ever been seen in any species but humans. Synuclein and the Coelacanth: The Molecular and Evolutionary Origins of Parkinson's Disease delves into the causes of Parkinson's disease and how the evolution of the human brain has left us uniquely vulnerable. Genetic risk factors, environmental toxins, and neuroanatomy are woven together in a multidisciplinary discussion that ranges from subatomic physics to socioeconomics. Connections between neurodegenerative disease, neural pathways, and innate immunity are explored. Finally, the author discusses new therapeutic agents are being developed that hope to go beyond just treating the symptoms of Parkinson's and actually halt the disease. - Proposes a new hypothesis on the origins of Parkinson's disease - Examines genetic risk factors, environmental toxins, and neuroanatomy of PD - Highlights new therapeutic treatment options in development for patients

Table of contents

• Cover
• Front Matter
• Table of Contents
• Copyright
• Dedication
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• List of Illustrations
• Chapter 1 : Out of the Depths – The synuclein proteins, their evolution, and the genetic code
• Chapter 2 : Bad News, Good News – The demographics and genetic and environmental risk factors for Parkinson's disease
• Chapter 3 : The Family Tremor – REM sleep behaviour disorder and essential tremor
• Chapter 4 : The Knockout – The history of the knockout mouse and the surprising results for the synuclein proteins
• Chapter 5 : Shapeshifter – The molecular structure and normal biological role of synuclein in neurons
• Chapter 6 : A New Kind of Pathogen – Prion diseases and amyloid fibrils
• Chapter 7 : Addicts – Neurotoxins that cause parkinsonism and the search for analogues in the environment
• Chapter 8 : Attack of the Oligomers – Alpha-synuclein amyloid oligomers and their pathogenic roles
• Chapter 9 : An Evolutionary Affair – The connection between Gaucher disease and Parkinson's disease
• Chapter 10 : Monkey Brains – Evolution of the human brain and the vulnerability of the substantia nigra
• Chapter 11 : A Troublesome Subject – Exploring the possible connection between intelligence and Parkinson’s and Alzheimer's diseases
• Chapter 12 : Appendix – Alpha-synuclein in the gut, Crohn’s disease, and the possible protective role of the synucleins in innate immune response
• Chapter 13 : Circuitry–The discovery of neural pathways involved in Parkinson’s disease and deep brain stimulation
• Chapter 14 : Seeking a Magic Bullet–the search for new Parkinson’s disease therapeutic agents
• Chapter 15 : Journey's End – A recap of the chapters, the final conclusions, and new directions to explore
• GENERIC-TITLE
• Index
• A