Lewy body
Lewy Body
Lewy body (pronounced: LOO-ee body) is a type of protein deposit found in the brain that is associated with several neurological disorders, including Dementia with Lewy Bodies and Parkinson's Disease.
Etymology
The term "Lewy body" is named after the German neurologist Friedrich Heinrich Lewy, who first described these protein deposits in the early 20th century.
Definition
A Lewy body is an abnormal aggregation of protein that develops inside nerve cells, contributing to the death of these cells. They are identified by their distinct shape and staining characteristics when viewed under a microscope. The primary protein component of a Lewy body is alpha-synuclein (α-synuclein), which is found in all neurons.
Related Terms
- Dementia with Lewy Bodies: A type of progressive dementia that leads to a decline in thinking, reasoning and independent function due to abnormal microscopic deposits that damage brain cells over time.
- Parkinson's Disease: A neurodegenerative disorder that affects predominately dopamine-producing neurons in a specific area of the brain called substantia nigra. Symptoms generally develop slowly over years.
- Alpha-synuclein: A protein that, in humans, is encoded by the SNCA gene. It is abundant in the brain, and smaller amounts are found in the heart, muscles, and other tissues. In the brain, alpha-synuclein is found mainly at the tips of nerve cells in specialized structures called presynaptic terminals.
See Also
External links
- Medical encyclopedia article on Lewy body
- Wikipedia's article - Lewy body
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