Discussion

How can oxidative stress contribute to alpha-synuclein pathology/toxicity? What oxidative modifications of alpha-synuclein are relevant to the PD pathogenic process?

There is evidence of oxidative damage in brains of PD patients and anti-oxidant therapies have been explored as disease-modifying therapies for PD. Alpha-synuclein aggregation - in the form of Lewy bodies - is the pathological hallmark of PD. If it a link could be determined between these two pathogenic processes, targeting this common pathway may be a viable approach for developing novel disease-modifying therapies.