In Parkinson’s disease, the protein “alpha-synuclein” aggregates and accumulates within neurons. The mechanism underlying this pathological progression is poorly understood. Scientists at the DZNE in Bonn have developed a novel experimental model that reproduces for the first time this pattern of alpha-synuclein brain spreading and provides important clues on the mechanisms underlying this pathological process.

It is known that signs of neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Huntington’s disease can appear years before the disease becomes manifest; these signs take the form of subtle changes in the brain and behavior of individuals affected. For the first time, an international group of researchers led by the German Center for Neurodegenerative Diseases (DZNE) and the Bonn University Hospital has proven the existence of such signatures for motor