Conjugal Synucleinopathies: A Clinicopathologic Study

Document Type

Article

Abstract

BACKGROUND: While preclinical studies have shown that alpha-synuclein can spread through cell-to-cell transmission whether it can be transmitted between humans is unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim was to assess the presence of a synucleinopathy in autopsied conjugal couples. METHODS: Neuropathological findings in conjugal couples were categorized as Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), Alzheimer's disease with Lewy bodies (ADLB), incidental Lewy body disease (ILBD), or no Lewy bodies. RESULTS: Ninety conjugal couples were included; the mean age of death was 88.3 years; 32 couples had no Lewy bodies; 42 couples had 1 spouse with a synucleinopathy: 10 PD, 3 DLB, 13 ADLB, and 16 ILBD; 16 couples had both spouses with a synucleinopathy: in 4 couples both spouses had PD, 1 couple had PD and DLB, 4 couples had PD and ADLB, 2 couples had PD and ILBD, 1 couple had DLB and ADLB, in 3 couples both had ADLB, and 1 couple had ADLB and ILBD. No couples had both spouses with ILBD. CONCLUSIONS: This large series of 90 autopsied conjugal couples found 16 conjugal couples with synucleinopathies, suggesting transmission of synucleinopathy between spouses is unlikely. © 2024 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.

Medical Subject Headings

Humans; Female; Male; Aged, 80 and over; Parkinson Disease (pathology, metabolism); Lewy Body Disease (pathology, metabolism); Aged; Synucleinopathies (pathology); Autopsy; alpha-Synuclein (metabolism); Spouses; Alzheimer Disease (pathology, metabolism); Lewy Bodies (pathology)

Publication Date

7-1-2024

Publication Title

Movement disorders : official journal of the Movement Disorder Society

E-ISSN

1531-8257

Volume

39

Issue

7

First Page

1212

Last Page

1217

PubMed ID

38597193

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1002/mds.29783

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