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About the Authors:
Margaret Chia-Ying Wey
Affiliations Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
Elizabeth Fernandez
* E-mail: [email protected] (EF); [email protected] (RS)
Affiliations Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, South Texas Veterans Health Care Network, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
Paul Anthony Martinez
Affiliation: Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
Patricia Sullivan
Affiliation: Clinical Neurocardiology Section, Clinical Neurosciences Program, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
David S. Goldstein
Affiliation: Clinical Neurocardiology Section, Clinical Neurosciences Program, Division of Intramural Research, National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke, Bethesda, Maryland, United States of America
Randy Strong
* E-mail: [email protected] (EF); [email protected] (RS)
Affiliations Department of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, Sam and Ann Barshop Institute for Longevity and Aging Studies, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America, Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, South Texas Veterans Health Care Network, San Antonio, Texas, United States of America
Introduction
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the 2nd most prevalent neurodegenerative disease. It is classically diagnosed by the presence of movement and gait abnormalities, but also involves non-motor features, including autonomic and cognitive manifestations [1]. Pathological hallmarks of PD include age-progressive degeneration of mesencephalic dopamine neurons and, in surviving neurons, the presence of Lewy bodies, cytoplasmic inclusions of which α-synuclein is a major constituent [2]. Symptoms of PD are associated with loss of dopamine in the substantia nigra and striatum [3].
Mechanisms of PD pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. Numerous studies have implicated mitochondrial...