Understanding the pathophysiology of Parkinson disease in the elderly. Characteristics of Parkinson disease observed through pathological examination

Abstract

One of the clinical characteristics of elderly Parkinson disease (PD) is an increased incidence of postural reflex impairment, falls, and freezing of gait compared to other age groups with PD. Aging is considered a risk factor for PD, in addition to genetic and environmental factors. Abnormal protein accumulation associated with aging has been observed in several proteins, including tau, amyloid beta, argyrophilic grains, and TDP–43, all of which show an increased incidence with age. However, the presence of Lewy pathology, a hallmark of PD, is reported to decrease after the age of 80, and may be absent in cases over 100 years old. Thus, it may be said that the pathological feature of PD in the elderly is characterized by the absence of Lewy pathology in cases over 100 years old.