@article{SianHulsmannRiederer2021, author = {Sian-Hulsmann, Jeswinder and Riederer, Peter}, title = {The nigral coup in Parkinson's Disease by α-synuclein and its associated rebels}, series = {Cells}, volume = {10}, journal = {Cells}, number = {3}, issn = {2073-4409}, doi = {10.3390/cells10030598}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-234073}, year = {2021}, abstract = {The risk of Parkinson's disease increases with age. However, the etiology of the illness remains obscure. It appears highly likely that the neurodegenerative processes involve an array of elements that influence each other. In addition, genetic, endogenous, or exogenous toxins need to be considered as viable partners to the cellular degeneration. There is compelling evidence that indicate the key involvement of modified α-synuclein (Lewy bodies) at the very core of the pathogenesis of the disease. The accumulation of misfolded α-synuclein may be a consequence of some genetic defect or/and a failure of the protein clearance system. Importantly, α-synuclein pathology appears to be a common denominator for many cellular deleterious events such as oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, dopamine synaptic dysregulation, iron dyshomeostasis, and neuroinflammation. These factors probably employ a common apoptotic/or autophagic route in the final stages to execute cell death. The misfolded α-synuclein inclusions skillfully trigger or navigate these processes and thus amplify the dopamine neuron fatalities. Although the process of neuroinflammation may represent a secondary event, nevertheless, it executes a fundamental role in neurodegeneration. Some viral infections produce parkinsonism and exhibit similar characteristic neuropathological changes such as a modest brain dopamine deficit and α-synuclein pathology. Thus, viral infections may heighten the risk of developing PD. Alternatively, α-synuclein pathology may induce a dysfunctional immune system. Thus, sporadic Parkinson's disease is caused by multifactorial trigger factors and metabolic disturbances, which need to be considered for the development of potential drugs in the disorder.}, language = {en} } @article{BremGruenblattDrechsleretal.2014, author = {Brem, Silvia and Gr{\"u}nblatt, Edna and Drechsler, Renate and Riederer, Peter and Walitza, Susanne}, title = {The neurobiological link between OCD and ADHD}, series = {Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders}, volume = {6}, journal = {Attention Deficit and Hyperactivity Disorders}, number = {3}, doi = {10.1007/s12402-014-0146-x}, url = {http://nbn-resolving.de/urn:nbn:de:bvb:20-opus-121312}, pages = {175-202}, year = {2014}, abstract = {Obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) are two of the most common neuropsychiatric diseases in paediatric populations. The high comorbidity of ADHD and OCD with each other, especially of ADHD in paediatric OCD, is well described. OCD and ADHD often follow a chronic course with persistent rates of at least 40-50 \%. Family studies showed high heritability in ADHD and OCD, and some genetic findings showed similar variants for both disorders of the same pathogenetic mechanisms, whereas other genetic findings may differentiate between ADHD and OCD. Neuropsychological and neuroimaging studies suggest that partly similar executive functions are affected in both disorders. The deficits in the corresponding brain networks may be responsible for the perseverative, compulsive symptoms in OCD but also for the disinhibited and impulsive symptoms characterizing ADHD. This article reviews the current literature of neuroimaging, neurochemical circuitry, neuropsychological and genetic findings considering similarities as well as differences between OCD and ADHD.}, language = {en} }