Parkinson's

Question 1

Parkinson’s

Answer 1

Common progressive dementia: 1 in 500 in UK

Age-related amyloid disease

Question 2

Symptoms of Parkinson’s

Answer 2

Loss of physical and mental function

Shaking of hands (tremors) associated with rigid posture

Symptoms only apparent when 80% of cells in that region are dead

Question 3

Which neurotransmitter does Parkinson’s affect?

Answer 3

Dopamine

Question 4

What protein froms amyloid in Parkinsons?

Answer 4

alpha-synuclein
- collects inside neurons

Question 5

What is the name for the structures formed by protein aggregtation in Parkinson’s?

Answer 5

Lewy bodies

Question 6

What area of brain is most affected by Parkinsons?

Answer 6

Substantia nigra

Question 7

Substantia nigra

Answer 7

Involved in motor control through the release of dopamine

Question 8

Two main genetic factors for Parkinsons

Answer 8

Gene for alpha-synuclein

Gene for leucine-rich repeat kinase - LRRK2

Question 9

alpha-synuclein

Answer 9

Intrinsically disorded protein
Function not clear
- possibly organisation of pre-synaptic vesicles
- aggregation takes a-synuclein away from vesicles; loss of function

Question 10

LRRK2

genetic causes of Parkinson’s

Answer 10

leucine-rich repeat kinase

function unclear
- related to dendrite maintenance

no clear connection to Parkinson’s

Question 11

Chemicals that protect from Parkinson’s

Answer 11

Some chemicals seem to protect from Parkinson’s

Coffee, NSAIDs and Smoking

Have epigenetic link with DNA methylation

Question 12

Possible treatment for Parkinson’s

Answer 12

No cure, just drugs that improve synaptic signalling

i.e. L-Dopa

Question 13

L-Dopa

Answer 13

Biosynthetic precursor to dopamine

L-Dopa can cross blood brain barrier, dopamine can not