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Synaptopathies: synaptic dysfunction in neurological disorders - A review from students to students
Lepeta K, Lourenco MV, Schweitzer BC, Martino Adami PV, Banerjee P, Catuara-Solarz S, de La Fuente Revenga M, Guillem AM et al.. Journal of neurochemistry, 2016-09-08
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Synapses are essential components of neurons and allow information to travel coordinately throughout the nervous system to adjust behavior to environmental stimuli and to control body functions, memories, and emotions. Thus, optimal synaptic communication is required for proper brain physiology, and slight perturbations of synapse function can lead to brain disorders. In fact, increasing evidence has demonstrated the relevance of synapse dysfunction as a major determinant of many neurological diseases. This notion has led to the concept of synaptopathies as brain diseases with synapse defects as shared pathogenic features. In this review, which was initiated at the 13th International Society for Neurochemistry Advanced School, we discuss basic concepts of synapse structure and function, and provide a critical view of how aberrant synapse physiology may contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders (autism, Down syndrome, startle disease, and epilepsy) as well as neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer and Parkinson disease). We finally discuss the appropriateness and potential implications of gathering synapse diseases under a single term. Understanding common causes and intrinsic differences in disease-associated synaptic dysfunction could offer novel clues toward synapse-based therapeutic intervention for neurological and neuropsychiatric disorders. In this Review, which was initiated at the 13th International Society for Neurochemistry (ISN) Advanced School, we discuss basic concepts of synapse structure and function, and provide a critical view of how aberrant synapse physiology may contribute to neurodevelopmental (autism, Down syndrome, startle disease, and epilepsy) as well as neurodegenerative disorders (Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases), gathered together under the term of synaptopathies. Read the Editorial Highlight for this article on page 783.
Key findings
- In fact, increasing evidence has demonstrated the relevance of synapse dysfunction as a major determinant of many neurological diseases.
Why it matters
This review discusses how problems with synapses, the connections between nerve cells, contribute to several brain disorders including Alzheimer's disease. It suggests that targeting synapse dysfunction could be a future treatment approach, but no specific treatment is tested or proven here.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Journal of neurochemistry) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Journal of Neurochemistry: journal h-index 349 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 2016 — within 20 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 384 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 32.0 citations a year over 12 year(s) since 2016 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 12.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 2 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 139 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Constanze I. Seidenbecher: h-index 46 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | University College London: institution h-index 2,029 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 3 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 27 institution(s) in 14 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 27333343) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1111/jnc.13713
- PubMed: 27333343
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neurochemistry →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Lepeta, K., Lourenco, M. V., Schweitzer, B. C., Martino Adami, P. V., Banerjee, P., Catuara-Solarz, S., et al. (2016). Synaptopathies: synaptic dysfunction in neurological disorders - A review from students to students. Journal of neurochemistry. https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.13713
Vancouver
Lepeta K, Lourenco MV, Schweitzer BC, Martino Adami PV, Banerjee P, Catuara-Solarz S, et al. Synaptopathies: synaptic dysfunction in neurological disorders - A review from students to students. Journal of neurochemistry. 2016. doi:10.1111/jnc.13713. PMID: 27333343.
BibTeX
@article{lepeta2016-27333343,
author = {Lepeta, K. and Lourenco, M. V. and Schweitzer, B. C. and Martino Adami, P. V. and Banerjee, P. and Catuara-Solarz, S. and de La Fuente Revenga, M. and Guillem, A. M. and others},
title = {{Synaptopathies: synaptic dysfunction in neurological disorders - A review from students to students}},
journal = {Journal of neurochemistry},
year = {2016},
doi = {10.1111/jnc.13713},
pmid = {27333343},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1111/jnc.13713}
}
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