Parkinson's Disease: Pathology and Progression

This lecture explores the pathology and progression of Parkinson's disease, focusing on the correlation between Lewy body pathology and early symptoms, disease evolution, non-motor symptoms, evidence for spreading pathology, and potential prion-like mechanisms. It discusses the implications of alpha-synuclein propagation, evidence from post-mortem analysis of grafted patients, and the role of a-synuclein in neurodegeneration. The lecture also delves into the potential propagation of pathology from the enteric nervous system to the brain, highlighting the role of the vagus nerve. Furthermore, it examines the transmission of pathological a-synuclein and its impact on neurodegeneration, emphasizing the importance of understanding the initiation sites of Parkinson's disease.