Parkinson's Disease: Cell Vulnerability and Disease Progression

293.7K

views

67

authors

19

articles

Editorial

15 September 2015

Editorial: Parkinson's disease: cell vulnerability and disease progression

Javier Blesa

,

Jose L. Lanciego

and

Jose A. Obeso

3,993 views

14 citations

Editors

3

Centro Integral en Neurociencias A.C. HM CINAC

Jose L Lanciego

University of Navarra

Centro Integral en Neurociencias A.C. HM CINAC

Impact

About

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1.5% of the global population over 65 years of age. The hallmark feature of PD is the degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and a consequent striatal dopamine deficiency. The pathogenesis of PD remains unclear.
Despite tremendous growth in recent years in our knowledge of the molecular basis of PD and the molecular pathways of cell death important questions remain regarding why are SNc cells especially vulnerable, which mechanisms underlie progressive SNc cell loss or what do Lewy bodies or alpha-synuclein reveal about disease progression. Understanding the different vulnerability of the dopaminergic neurons from midbrain regions and the mechanisms whereby pathology becomes widespread are primary objectives of basic and clinical research in PD.
This current Frontiers Research Topic will discuss the etiopathogenesis of PD, presenting a series of papers that provide up-to-date, state-of-the-art information on molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the neurodegeneration process in Parkinson Disease, the role of activation of functional anatomical organization of the basal ganglia and in particular habitual vs goal directed systems as a factor of neuronal vulnerability, the possibility that PD is a prion disease and how genetic factors linked to familial and sporadic forms of PD.
We shall welcome experts in the field to contribute original research articles, as well as review articles or case reports that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the cell and physiological mechanisms underlying the origin of PD.

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder that affects 1.5% of the global population over 65 years of age. The hallmark feature of PD is the degeneration of dopamine neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) and a consequent striatal dopamine deficiency. The pathogenesis of PD remains unclear.
Despite tremendous growth in recent years in our knowledge of the molecular basis of PD and the molecular pathways of cell death important questions remain regarding why are SNc cells especially vulnerable, which mechanisms underlie progressive SNc cell loss or what do Lewy bodies or alpha-synuclein reveal about disease progression. Understanding the different vulnerability of the dopaminergic neurons from midbrain regions and the mechanisms whereby pathology becomes widespread are primary objectives of basic and clinical research in PD.
This current Frontiers Research Topic will discuss the etiopathogenesis of PD, presenting a series of papers that provide up-to-date, state-of-the-art information on molecular and cellular mechanisms involved in the neurodegeneration process in Parkinson Disease, the role of activation of functional anatomical organization of the basal ganglia and in particular habitual vs goal directed systems as a factor of neuronal vulnerability, the possibility that PD is a prion disease and how genetic factors linked to familial and sporadic forms of PD.
We shall welcome experts in the field to contribute original research articles, as well as review articles or case reports that will stimulate the continuing efforts to understand the cell and physiological mechanisms underlying the origin of PD.

Download ebook

Share

Editors

Centro Integral en Neurociencias A.C. HM CINAC

Jose L Lanciego

University of Navarra

Centro Integral en Neurociencias A.C. HM CINAC

Impact

293,688 Total views

230,460 Article views

55,452 Article downloads

7,776 Topic views

Published In

Journal Thumbnail

Frontiers in Neuroanatomy

About Frontiers Research Topics

With their unique mixes of varied contributions from Original Research to Review Articles, Research Topics unify the most influential researchers, the latest key findings and historical advances in a hot research area! Find out more on how to host your own Frontiers Research Topic or contribute to one as an author.

Suggest a topic