Gut-initiated alpha synuclein fibrils drive parkinsonism phenotypes: temporal mapping of REM sleep behavior disorder-like and other non-motor symptoms - PubMed
12 hours ago
- #Parkinson's disease
- #Gut-brain axis
- #Alpha-synuclein
- Parkinson's disease (PD) involves both motor and non-motor symptoms, with gastrointestinal and sleep disturbances often appearing before motor impairments.
- Researchers injected alpha-synuclein (αSyn) preformed fibrils (PFFs) into the gut of mice to model PD via the gut-brain axis, observing progressive αSyn spread and behavioral changes.
- The study found that αSyn pathology correlates with non-motor symptoms like REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD)-like sleep disturbances, mirroring human PD progression.
- Dual-wavelength fiber photometry revealed dopamine dysfunction plays a central role in altering sleep architecture, particularly REM sleep without atonia.
- The research underscores the multisystem nature of PD, linking αSyn pathology, gut-brain signaling, and non-motor symptom onset, especially sleep-related disorders.