The Era of Neurodegenerative Metastasis

Abstract

The incidence of converging end points across neurodegenerative disorders, leading to comorbidity, has spurred the search for common neurometabolic denominators among otherwise distinct pathologies. While recent data have hinted at crossover factors, and genetic risk-factors across the neurodegenerative landscape, we discuss the potential of prion-like amyloid proteins as suspects, if not causals, in seeding cross-pathology. While much work remains to be done on how they spread and "fertilize" seemingly unrelated neuropathies, it is safe to assume that the era of neurodegenerative metastasis is here.