Kurtosis imaging reveals microstructural changes of late-stage α-synuclein accumulation in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease

Abstract

This article is a critique of the paper by Khairnar et al. in the current issue of the Journal of Neurochemistry which describes the use of a sophisticated magnetic resonance imaging technique, diffusion kurtosis imaging, to investigate microstructural changes in the brain of TNWT-61 mice that are over-expressing α-synuclein. The importance of α-synuclein to Parkinson's disease pathology is considered and the article critically assessed. The steps needed to establish this method as a biomarker in human disease is discussed. Read the highlighted article 'Late-stage α-synuclein accumulation in TNWT-61 mouse model of Parkinson's disease detected by diffusion kurtosis imaging' on page 1259.