Recent Advances in Parkinsons Disease: Part I: Basic Research

This first volume starts with an overview on current perspectives in genetic research and on the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration. This is followed by a selection of hot topics in pathophysiological research, from molecular studies to system-level investigations based on in vivo electrophysiological recordings and neurocomputational methods.

Complete overview of hot topics and approaches to current PD research, from molecules, to brain circuits, to clinical and therapeutic applicationsLeading authors review the state-of-the-art in their field of investigation, and provide their views and perspectives for future researchAll chapters include comprehensive background information and are written in a clear form that is accessible also to the non-specialist

Section I: Genetic and molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in PD 1. Identifying PD-causing genes and genetic susceptibility factors: current approaches and future prospects 2. The impact of genetic research on our understanding of Parkinson's Disease 3. Unraveling the role of defective genes 4. What causes the death of dopaminergic neurons in Parkinson’s disease? 5. Intracellular Signaling Pathways In Dopamine Cell Death And Axonal Degeneration 6. Control of mitochondrial integrity in Parkinson’s Disease 7. Role of Post-Translational Modifications in Modulating the Structure, Function and Toxicity of α-synuclein: Implications for Parkinson’s Disease Pathogenesis and Therapies

Section II: Cellular and system-level pathophysiology of the basal ganglia in P 8. The role of dopamine in modulating the structure and function of striatal circuits 9. Assemblies of glutamate receptor subunits with post-synaptic density proteins and their alterations in Parkinson’s disease 10. Adenosine-dopamine interactions 11. Maladaptive plasticity in L-DOPA-induced dyskinesia 12. Effects of GPi and STN inactivation on physiological, motor, cognitive and motivational processes in animal models of Parkinson's disease 13. Computational physiology of the basal ganglia in Parkinson’s disease 14. Neurocomputational models of motor and cognitive deficits in Parkinson's Disease