Watch: When Does Neurodegeneration Begin?
In this week’s Neuro-Biomedicine educational video, Dr. James Farley, DC, MS, BA, BS, FAIS, reviews research on α-synucleinopathies and discusses why smell, autonomic function, sleep, mood, and other non-motor changes have become important areas of study.
Watch the full video above to learn more.
When Does Neurodegeneration Begin?
Could changes begin years before a neurological diagnosis?
When most people think about neurodegenerative conditions, they think about the point when noticeable symptoms appear or when a diagnosis is finally made. But research suggests that some changes associated with certain neurodegenerative diseases may begin years before a clinical diagnosis.
In this educational video, Dr. James Farley reviews research examining the timeline of α-synucleinopathies and discusses some of the non-motor changes researchers have studied as potential early features of these conditions.
What Are α-Synucleinopathies?
α-Synucleinopathies are a group of neurodegenerative disorders associated with abnormal accumulation of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the nervous system.
This group includes conditions such as:
- Parkinson’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease with dementia
- Dementia with Lewy bodies
- Multiple system atrophy
An important area of research is understanding when the underlying disease process begins compared with when recognizable symptoms and a clinical diagnosis appear.
The Gap Between Early Changes and Diagnosis
A diagnosis often represents a point at which a recognizable pattern of symptoms has developed. Researchers studying neurodegenerative disease are also interested in what may happen before that point.
This period is sometimes referred to as a prodromal phase—a period in which certain changes may be present before the characteristic features required for a diagnosis become apparent.
Recognizing these patterns does not mean that someone with one of these symptoms has or will develop a neurodegenerative disease. Many of these symptoms have numerous possible causes. Instead, researchers study combinations and patterns of changes to better understand how these diseases may develop over time.
What Early Changes Are Researchers Studying?
In the video, Dr. Farley discusses several non-motor changes that have been investigated in connection with neurodegenerative disease.
Changes in the Sense of Smell
A reduced or altered sense of smell has been studied as a potential early feature of some neurodegenerative conditions.
Because a change in smell may seem unrelated to the brain, it can easily be overlooked or attributed to something else. However, researchers have found olfactory dysfunction to be particularly relevant in the study of Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
Autonomic Nervous System Changes
The autonomic nervous system helps regulate many processes that occur automatically throughout the body.
Changes researchers may evaluate include:
Constipation • Blood-pressure regulation • Dizziness upon standing • Temperature regulation • Sexual function
These symptoms can have many causes, but their relationship with autonomic nervous system function has made them an important area of neurological research.
Sleep, Mood and the Brain
Dr. Farley also discusses sleep disturbances, anxiety, and depression.
These issues are often considered independently, but researchers have investigated whether certain sleep and neuropsychiatric changes can occur during the prodromal stages of some neurodegenerative diseases.
Again, experiencing anxiety, depression, insomnia, or another sleep problem does not establish that neurodegeneration is occurring. The significance depends on the individual, the type of symptom, other findings, and the overall clinical picture.
Why Earlier Recognition Matters
The larger lesson isn’t to become alarmed by every symptom.
It’s to recognize that neurological health develops over time.
Waiting until a person develops the most recognizable symptoms of a neurological disorder may provide only part of the story. Studying what happens years earlier can help researchers better understand disease progression and potentially identify opportunities for earlier evaluation and intervention.
Rather than asking only:
“What diagnosis explains these symptoms?”
another valuable question can be:
“When did these changes begin, and what else has been changing over time?”
Continue Your Education
The brain and nervous system are extraordinarily complex, and neurological health involves far more than any single symptom.
Continue exploring the Neuro-Biomedicine educational series to learn more about brain function, the nervous system, neurodegeneration, stress, nutrition, circulation, and other factors that influence human physiology.
