Lewy bodies

From WikiMD.org
Jump to navigation Jump to search

Lewy bodies

Lewy bodies (pronounced: LOO-ee bodies) are abnormal aggregates of protein that develop inside nerve cells in Parkinson's disease (PD), Lewy body dementia, and some other disorders. They are identified microscopically by their characteristic appearance.

Etymology

The term "Lewy body" is named after the neurologist Friedrich H. Lewy, who first described these structures in the early 20th century.

Definition

Lewy bodies are spherical structures that displace other cell components. They are composed primarily of a protein called alpha-synuclein. In a healthy neuron, alpha-synuclein is involved in the release and reception of chemical signals. In a neuron with a Lewy body, this protein is misfolded and forms a dense core surrounded by a halo of radiating fibers.

Related Terms

  • Parkinson's disease: A neurodegenerative disorder characterized by tremors, stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination. Lewy bodies are a hallmark of this disease.
  • Lewy body dementia: A type of dementia that is characterized by the presence of Lewy bodies in the brain. Symptoms can include cognitive problems, hallucinations, and fluctuations in alertness and attention.
  • Alpha-synuclein: A protein that is abundant in the human brain. Misfolded forms of this protein form the core of Lewy bodies.
  • Neuron: A nerve cell that is the basic building block of the nervous system. Neurons transmit information to other nerve cells, muscle, or gland cells. Most neurons have a cell body, an axon, and dendrites.

See Also

External links

Esculaap.svg

This WikiMD dictionary article is a stub. You can help make it a full article.


Languages: - East Asian 中文, 日本, 한국어, South Asian हिन्दी, Urdu, বাংলা, తెలుగు, தமிழ், ಕನ್ನಡ,
Southeast Asian Indonesian, Vietnamese, Thai, မြန်မာဘာသာ, European español, Deutsch, français, русский, português do Brasil, Italian, polski