Cited by 1,021Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and TreatmentsNuclear Receptors and SignalingNeuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms

Parkinson's disease: a dual‐hit hypothesis

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Hawkes, C. H., Del Tredici, K., Braak, H.·2007·Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology

Abstract

Accumulating evidence suggests that sporadic Parkinson's disease has a long prodromal period during which several non-motor features develop, in particular, impairment of olfaction, vagal dysfunction and sleep disorder. Early sites of Lewy pathology are the olfactory bulb and enteric plexus of the stomach. We propose that a neurotropic pathogen, probably viral, enters the brain via two routes: (i) nasal, with anterograde progression into the temporal lobe; and (ii) gastric, secondary to swallowing of nasal secretions in saliva. These secretions might contain a neurotropic pathogen that, after penetration of the epithelial lining, could enter axons of the Meissner's plexus and, via transsynaptic transmission, reach the preganglionic parasympathetic motor neurones of the vagus nerve. This would allow retrograde transport into the medulla and, from here, into the pons and midbrain until the substantia nigra is reached and typical aspects of disease commence. Evidence for this theory from the perspective of olfactory and autonomic dysfunction is reviewed, and the possible routes of pathogenic invasion are considered. It is concluded that the most parsimonious explanation for the initial events of sporadic Parkinson's disease is pathogenic access to the brain through the stomach and nose - hence the term 'dual-hit'.

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Crossref · 10.1111/j.1365-2990.2007.00874.x

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  • The double-hit hypothesis proposed by Hawkes et al. supports their theory, pointing out that α-synuclein pathology is transmitted to the midbrain through two different routes, namely, from the nasal cavity to the temporal lobe or from the stomach, followed by nasal secretions in swallowed saliva.

    “The double-hit hypothesis proposed by Hawkes et al.135 supports their theory, pointing out that a-synuclein pathology is transmitted to the midbrain through two different routes, namely, from the nasal cavity to the temporal lobe or from the stomach, followed by nasal secretions in swallowed saliva.135”

    From The role of gut dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease: mechanistic insights and therapeutic options (2021) · cites this paper as [135]

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  • When α-synuclein pathology firstly occurred in the olfactory bulbs, it spread further to the brain via the olfactory tract but also went down to the ENS and damaged its neurons.

    “Conversely, when the α-synuclein pathology firstly occurred in the olfactory bulbs, it spread further to the brain via the olfactory tract but it also went down to the ENS and it damaged its neurons [402].”
  • Braak and colleagues hypothesized that alpha-synuclein pathology might start in the olfactory bulbs and/or enteric nervous system by an unknown pathogen and/or environmental toxin and then progress to the substantia nigra and further areas of the central nervous system.

    “Braak and colleagues hypothesized that alpha-synuclein pathology might start in either the OB and/or in the ENS possibly by an unknown pathogen and/or environmental toxin and then progresses towards the SN and further areas in the CNS.”
  • The vagal nerve might provide a path for the spread of alpha-synuclein pathology from the enteric nervous system to the brain through the brainstem, midbrain, basal forebrain, and cortical areas.

    “The vagal nerve might provide a path for the spread of alpha-synuclein pathology from the ENS to the brain through the brainstem, midbrain, basal forebrain and finally the cortical areas (Braak et al., 2003;Hawkes et al., 2007)”

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Research works printed but not linked: 8

  1. Duda JE, Lee VMY, Trojanowski JQ. Neuropathology of synuclein aggregates: new insights into mechanism of neurodegenerative diseases. J Neurosci Res 2000; 61: 121-7
  2. Daum RF, Sekinger B, Kobal G, Lang CJ. Olfactory testing with 'sniffin' sticks' for clinical diagnosis of Parkinson's disease. Nervenarzt 2000; 71: 643-50
  3. Doty RL. Olfaction. Annu Rev Psychol 2001; 52: 423-52
  4. Tissingh G, Berendse HW, Bergmanns P, De Waard R, Drukarch B, Stoof JC, Wolters EC. Loss of olfaction in de novo and treated Parkinson's disease: possible implica- tion for early diagnosis. Mov Disord 2001; 16: 41-6 43
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Authors
Hawkes, C. H., Del Tredici, K., & Braak, H.
Affiliations
  • Queen's Hospital (GB)
  • Goethe University Frankfurt (DE)
Corresponding author
Hawkes, C. H.
Venue
Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology
Publisher
Wiley
Published
2007-10-24
Volume
33
Issue
6
Pages
599-614
ISSN
  • 0305-1846 (ISSN-L)
  • 1365-2990
OpenAlex
W2105047187
Cited by
1,021
References
163
Citations by year
2026: 35 · 2025: 59 · 2024: 87 · 2023: 82 · 2022: 104 · 2021: 117 · 2020: 83 · 2019: 59 · 2018: 49 · 2017: 63 · 2016: 41 · 2015: 33 · 2014: 32 · 2013: 40 · 2012: 33
FWCI
2.90
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • Neuropathology and Applied Neurobiology (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience › Nuclear Receptors and Signaling
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Neurology › Neuroinflammation and Neurodegeneration Mechanisms
Keywords
Parkinson's disease, neurotropic viruses, olfactory dysfunction, Lewy bodies, vagal dysfunction, sleep disorder, olfactory bulb, submucosal plexus, vagus nerve, substantia nigra, prodromal Parkinson's disease, viral pathogenesis
MeSH terms
Animals, Olfaction Disorders, Gastrointestinal Diseases, Heart Diseases, Humans, Models, Neurological, Parkinson Disease, Sleep Wake Disorders, Virus Diseases

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