Synapses are complex, highly specialized biological structures. Therefore, even slight functional disturbance can lead to disruptive brain disorders. Dysfunction of these structures is associated with a variety of aging-related neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Most synaptopathies compromise complex signaling pathways by progressively affecting the synaptic protein repertoire. Currently, the treatment of most of these pathologies focuses on the mitigation of symptoms; in consequence, further efforts need to be made to elucidate the common molecular culprit and cellular mechanisms underlying the cause of these severe pathologies to serve as therapeutic targets for clinical applications.
In this Research Topic, we aim to discuss synaptic dysfunction as a causal factor for aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the recent technological advances that allow identifying the individual synaptic components affected in these synaptic pathologies, we know little about how they impact the synaptic function. To promote the discussion around the molecular and functional connection, we primarily welcome original research, review, and perspective articles emphasizing the relationship between synaptic function and the proteins or mechanisms affected.
This Research Topic will welcome submissions that discuss new insights into synaptopathies as a mechanism for age-related neurological disorders, including but not limited to the following topics:
- Synapse loss and alteration of spine morphology in Neurological Disorders.
- Role of glia in synapse function and Neurological Disorders.
- Excitatory and Inhibitory synaptic dysfunction in Neurological Disorders. - Identification of novel loci related to synaptic proteins (case/control genome-wide association analyses, quantitative trait loci, and other high-throughput approaches) relevant to synaptic function in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Synaptic protein degradation mechanism alteration in Neurological Disorders.
- Novel methods for interrogating synaptic function.
Synapses are complex, highly specialized biological structures. Therefore, even slight functional disturbance can lead to disruptive brain disorders. Dysfunction of these structures is associated with a variety of aging-related neurodegenerative conditions, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease. Most synaptopathies compromise complex signaling pathways by progressively affecting the synaptic protein repertoire. Currently, the treatment of most of these pathologies focuses on the mitigation of symptoms; in consequence, further efforts need to be made to elucidate the common molecular culprit and cellular mechanisms underlying the cause of these severe pathologies to serve as therapeutic targets for clinical applications.
In this Research Topic, we aim to discuss synaptic dysfunction as a causal factor for aging-related neurodegenerative diseases. Despite the recent technological advances that allow identifying the individual synaptic components affected in these synaptic pathologies, we know little about how they impact the synaptic function. To promote the discussion around the molecular and functional connection, we primarily welcome original research, review, and perspective articles emphasizing the relationship between synaptic function and the proteins or mechanisms affected.
This Research Topic will welcome submissions that discuss new insights into synaptopathies as a mechanism for age-related neurological disorders, including but not limited to the following topics:
- Synapse loss and alteration of spine morphology in Neurological Disorders.
- Role of glia in synapse function and Neurological Disorders.
- Excitatory and Inhibitory synaptic dysfunction in Neurological Disorders. - Identification of novel loci related to synaptic proteins (case/control genome-wide association analyses, quantitative trait loci, and other high-throughput approaches) relevant to synaptic function in neurodegenerative diseases.
- Synaptic protein degradation mechanism alteration in Neurological Disorders.
- Novel methods for interrogating synaptic function.
