Presynaptic Dysfunction in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is followed by neurodegeneration that causes impairment of body movement, nervous system abnormalities, and sleep disorders. These signs are brought on by dopamine neuronal deprivation in the substantia nigra of the brain. The drugs available will lessen the symptoms but the advancement of the disease cannot be ceased. Different studies manifested that synaptic dysfunction and degradation of axons take place earlier than the loss of neurons. The detection of synaptic changes in the early stage may prove to be helpful in the prevention and slow advancement of the disease. Imaging studies executed with specific ligands and dissection studies in animal models exemplify dysfunction in the presynaptic terminals. The dopaminergic synapses get diminished in PD, but the role of other neurons causing the degradation of synapse remains obscured. Different genes present at the synapse are also responsible for causing the dysfunction of synapses. This chapter describes the following agendas: (1) first, the defects in synapses occur much before the death of the neuron; (2) second, it exhibits the specific genes contributing to the dysfunction of the synapse; and (3) third, the interrelation between the neurons in the striatum and that of the synaptic genes in different neurons have been established. Thus, this study will facilitate the creation of innovative therapies by targeting the synapse. Further studies and research are required to inspect the roles of these genes in different neurons.