Antibodies to alpha-synuclein detect Lewy bodies in many Down's syndrome brains with Alzheimer's disease

Immunohistochemical examination of 20 Down's syndrome brains, using antibod ies to alpha-, beta-, and gamma-synuclein, demonstrated many alpha-synuclei n-positive Lewy bodies and dystrophic neurites in 50% of amygdala samples f rom Down's syndrome brains with Alzheimer's disease. Similar lesions were l ess common in other regions of these brains, none of which contained beta-s ynuclein or gamma-synuclein abnormalities. Thus, alpha-synuclein-positive L ewy bodies and neuritic processes frequently occur with Alzheimer's disease in Down's syndrome brains.