SUMMARY
# Experiment Design: Metal Ion-Synuclein-Mitochondria Axis in Parkinson's Disease
## Background and Rationale
# Experiment Design: Metal Ion-Synuclein-Mitochondria Axis in Parkinson's Disease
Parkinson's disease represents one of the most prevalent neurodegenerative disorders worldwide, characterized by progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. While the etiopathology remains incompletely understood, mounting evidence implicates a critical interplay between
METHODOLOGY NOTES
**Phase 1: Participant Recruitment and Baseline Assessment (Weeks 1-8)**
• Recruit 150 participants (75 Parkinson's disease patients, 75 age-matched controls)
• Inclusion criteria: PD patients with Hoehn-Yahr stage I-III, age 50-80 years
• Exclusion criteria: Secondary parkinsonism, cognitive impairment (MoCA <26), metal exposure history
• Obtain informed consent and collect demographic data
• Perform baseline clinical assessments: UPDRS-III, Hoehn-Yahr staging, DaTscan imaging
**Phase 2: Biofluid Collection and Processing (Weeks 2-10)**
• Collect fasting blood samples (20mL) and CSF via lumbar puncture (10mL) from all participants
• Process samples within 2 hours: centrifuge blood at 3000rpm for 10min, aliquot plasma and serum
• Store samples at -80°C until analysis
• Collect 24-hour urine samples for metal excretion analysis
**Phase 3: Metal Ion Quantification (Weeks 11-16)**
• Measure iron, copper, zinc, manganese levels in plasma, CSF, and urine using ICP-MS
• Quantify transferri