PARK7 and neurodegenerative disease: It is of interest to note that, although it is still unclear whether Lewy bodies are present in individuals with DJ-1 related forms of PD, nonfunctional aggregated DJ-1 is present in the brain of patients with neurodegenerative diseases [38], and DJ-1 levels are strongly increased in the detergent-insoluble fraction from sporadic PD and dementia with Lewy body brains [39].