Event Date
Guglielmo Foffani, PhD
Research Specialist
CINAC, Hospital Universitario HM Puerta del Sur, Mostoles, Universidad CEU-San Pablo, Madrid, Spain & Hospital Nacional de Parapléjicos, Toledo, Spain
ABSTRACT
In Parkinson's disease, the progressive neurodegeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta (SNc) is associated with classic motor features, which typically have a focal onset. As a pathogenic mechanism, corticostriatal activity may promote secretion of striatal extracellular alpha-synuclein, favoring its pathological aggregation at vulnerable dopaminergic synapses. A similar pathogenic process may occur at corticofugal projections to the medulla oblongata and other vulnerable structures, thereby contributing to the bottom-up progression of Lewy pathology. This cortical pathogenesis may co-exist with bottom-up mechanisms, adding an integrative top-down perspective to the quest for the factors that impinge upon the vulnerability of dopaminergic cells in the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease.
BIO
Dr. Foffani is a research specialist at the HM CINAC, a research facility dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease. The research facility is adjacent to clinical facilities for patients and has a research facility for animal and computational studies.
Faculty host: Karen Moxon, PhD, Professor, Department of Biomedical Engineering, UC Davis