Familial forms of frontotemporal dementia (FTD) with tauopathy are mostly caused by mutations in the gene encoding the microtubule-associated protein tau (MAPT). However, rare forms of familial tauopathy without MAPT mutations have been reported, suggesting other tauopathy-related genetic defects. Interestingly, two presenilin 1 (PS1) mutations (Leu113Pro and insArg352) recently have been associated with familial FTD albeit without neuropathological confirmation. We report here a novel PS1 mutation in a patient with Pick-type tauopathy in the absence of extracellular beta-amyloid deposits. The mutation is predicted to substitute Gly-->Val at codon position 183 (Gly183Val) and to affect the splice signal at the junction of the sixth exon and intron. Further clinical-genetic investigation showed a positive family history of FTD-like dementia and suggested that Gly183Val is associated with a phenotypically heterogeneous neurodegenerative disorder. Our results suggest PS1 as a candidate gene for Pick-type tauopathy without MAPT mutations.

Objective-Leucine-rich repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) mutations are the most common cause of Parkinson disease (PD) Methods-We identified 33 affected and 15 unaffected LRRK2 c.4321C>T (p.R1441C) mutation carriers through an international consortium originating from three continents. The age-specific cumulative incidence of PD was calculated by Kaplan-Meier analysis.Results-The clinical presentation of Lrrk2 p.R1441C carriers was similar to sporadic PD and Lrrk2 p.G2019S parkinsonism. The mean age at onset for parkinsonism was 60 years, range 30 -79 years; fewer than 20% of the patients had symptoms before the age 50 years, while by 75 years >90% of them had developed symptoms. Haplotype analysis suggests four independent founders for the p.R1441C mutation.

The discovery of α-synuclein (α-syn) as a major component of Lewy bodies, neuropathological hallmark of Parkinson's disease (PD), dementia with Lewy bodies and of glial inclusions in multiple system atrophy initiated the investigation of α-syn as a biomarker in cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). Due to the involvement of the periphery in PD the quantification of α-syn in peripheral fluids such as serum, plasma and saliva has been investigated as well. We review how the development of multiple assays for the quantification of α-syn has yielded novel insights into the variety of α-syn species present in the different fluids; the optimal preanalytical conditions required for robust quantification and the potential clinical value of α-syn as biomarker. We also suggest future approaches to use of CSF α-syn in neurodegenerative diseases.