Fig. 7

α-synuclein (αSYN) aggregation process and temporal accumulation of each aggregate (hypothesis). A Monomeric αSYN molecules assemble to form αSYN oligomers. As aggregation proceeds, they develop protofibrils and eventually fibrils. B A hypothetical accumulation process of αSYN aggregates in Parkinson's disease could include the following. αSYN oligomers fill first in neuropil and then accumulate in neurons. As Lewy-related pathology forms and accumulates, synuclein oligomers diminish, and Lewy-related pathology becomes predominant. Furthermore, as the disease progresses to the terminal stage and neuronal loss becomes more severe, the Lewy-related pathology also decreases