Our results confirm that the p. A53T SNCA mutation is relatively common in Greek patients with PD or PD plus dementia, particularly in cases with early onset and/or autosomal dominant family history.
Therefore, the unraveled tau-mediated signaling cascade may contribute to the pathogenesis of dementia in A53T α-synuclein-linked familial PD cases, as well as some subgroups of PD cases with extensive tau pathology.<b>SIGNIFICANCE STATEMENT</b> Here, we report mutation-specific postsynaptic deficits that are caused by A53T mutant α-synuclein, which is linked to familial Parkinson's disease (PD).
Moreover, cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) levels of tau, p-tau and amyloid Aβ42 were measured in these patients and in an additional cohort of 5 symptomatic and 2 asymptomatic p.A53T carriers without an initial manifestation of dementia.