Age and Parkinson's disease-related neuronal death in the substantia nigra pars compacta.
During aging, decline in memory and cognitive abilities as well as motor weakening is of great concern. The dopaminergic system mediates some aspects of manual dexterity, in addition to cognition and emotion, and may be especially vulnerable to aging. A common neurodegenerative disorder of this system, Parkinson's disease, is characterized by a selective, progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. This review includes studies quantifying age and Parkinson's-related changes of the substantia nigra, with emphasis on stereological studies performed in the substantia nigra pars compacta.
Eriksen
Nina
N
Research Laboratory for Stereology and Neuroscience, Copenhagen University Hospital Bispebjerg, Copenhagen, Denmark. forsklab@bbh.hosp.dk
Stark
Anette Kirstine
AK
Pakkenberg
Bente
B
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D016923:Cell Death / Q000502:physiology*; D004298:Dopamine / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D009474:Neurons / Q000473:pathology*; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D013378:Substantia Nigra / Q000473:pathology*; D051844:alpha-Synuclein / Q000378:metabolism
D051844:alpha-Synuclein; D004298:Dopamine