You might recall the links drawn between the protein alpha-synuclein and development of Parkinson's disease:

Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) have elevated levels of the protein called alpha-synuclein in their brains. As the protein clumps, or aggregates, the resulting toxicity causes the death of neurons that produce the brain chemical dopamine. Consequently, nerves and muscles that control movement and coordination are destroyed.

It looks possible that the reason behind all this clumping synuclein is chronic inflammation - that catch-all bugbear that appears to contribute to all the major diseases and degenerations of aging. As we get older, our immune system slips into faulty states that lead to rising levels of inflammation, damaging our biochemistry in many different ways such that we degrade that much faster. This might be one of those ways:

Aging enhances the neuroinflammatory response and alpha-synuclein nitration in rats:

The Lewy body is a pathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease. It has been revealed that the Lewy body contains nitrated alpha-synuclein which is prone to [forming aggregates]. We tested the hypothesis that aging may enhance nitration of alpha-synuclein due to an exaggerated neuroinflammatory reaction ... greater nitration of proteins like alpha-synuclein occurs in the substantia nigra of 16-month-old rats versus 3-month-old rats ... These results imply that an exaggerated neuroinflammatory response that occurs with aging might be involved in the increase in prevalence of neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's disease.

Whether or not this particular linkage is established beyond doubt, there is more than enough evidence demonstrating chronic inflammation to be bad for your health and longevity. Making sensible life choices to minimize inflammation as best you can is a sensible response to the research findings amassed to date.

Posted by Reason at November 7, 2008 7:48 PM | TrackBack (0)