Nervous System Diseases Commons^™

Evaluation Of Immune-Modulating Therapies For Parkinson's Disease, Katherine E. Olson

Theses & Dissertations

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative

disorder, second only to Alzheimer’s disease (AD). It is characterized by a

progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons along the nigrostriatal axis and the

formation of proteinaceous inclusions of alpha-synuclein (α-syn). Secondary to

the loss of dopaminergic neurons is a progression in motor and non-motor

symptoms. Motor symptoms are characterized by slowness in movement,

stiffness and tremor. Non-motor symptoms include depression, constipation,

sleep abnormalities and loss of sense of smell. The cause of disease remains

incompletely understood. However, age, genetics, environment, viral infection,

and interplay between the innate and adaptive immune system …