SNCA and dementia: However, to fully assess these non-laboratory animal species as potential models of wider human dementia, it is essential that the other proteinopathies present in humans, such as α-synuclein, Lewy bodies and trans-activation response element DNA binding protein 43 (TDP-43), are also investigated.3,6,7 Therefore, the significant proteinopathy and vascular pathologies present in several species of ageing animals represent promising subjects for further investigation (Table 3).