Antibodies to α-synuclein detect lewy bodies in many down's syndrome brains with alzheimer's disease

Abstract

Immunohistochemical examination of 20 Down's syndrome brains, using antibodies to α-, β-, and γ-synuclein, demonstrated many α-synuclein- positive Lewy bodies and dystrophic neurites in 50% of amygdala samples from Down's syndrome brains with Alzheimer's disease. Similar lesions were less common in other regions of these brains, none of which contained β-synuclein or γ-synuclein abnormalities. Thus, α-synuclein-positive Lewy bodies and neuritic processes frequently occur with Alzheimer's disease in Down's syndrome brains.