AD/PD 2021 | RAB39B involved in the pathogenesis of dementia with Lewy bodies

Mutations within the vesicular trafficking protein RAB39B are associated with rare X-linked Parkinson’s disease. However, the contribution of the protein in idiopathic neurodegenerative diseases remains unclear. Tiago Outeiro, PhD, University Medical Center Göttingen, Göttingen, Germany, outlines the findings of a study analyzing the distribution and expression of RAB39B in post-mortem human brain tissue from cases of dementia with Lewy bodies, Alzheimer’s disease, and controls. Results support the involvement of RAB39B in the pathogenesis of dementia with Lewy bodies. Therefore, RAB39B and its associated functional pathways may be considered potential targets for therapeutic interventions in Lewy body diseases. This interview took place during the AD/PD™ 2021 conference.