University of Rhode Island Launches Innovative Project on Visual Hallucinations in Parkinson's Disease with $500K Grant

The University of Rhode Island is taking a groundbreaking approach to understanding visual hallucinations in Parkinson's disease, thanks to a nearly $500,000 grant from the National Science Foundation. This project, led by Dr. Yalda Shahriari, aims to reveal the changes in the brain that cause visual hallucinations—experiences of seeing things that aren't there—in people with Parkinson’s disease. Over the next three years, Dr. Shahriari and her team will use immersive virtual reality to study how these hallucinations are linked to motor symptoms in Parkinson’s. Visual hallucinations affect up to 75% of people with Parkinson's over a 20-year period, and they can appear long before motor symptoms. Early detection is vital to help patients get the right treatments sooner. In this study, patients will engage in virtual reality face-recognition tasks while wearing a "smart glove." This glove will track hand movements, such as reaching for a virtual button when they recognize a face. These tasks will help researchers understand the brain activity involved in both seeing and movement, focusing on specific areas that control visual perception, attention, and motor functions. The ultimate goal is to identify “biomarkers,” or measurable signs, of visual hallucinations in Parkinson’s patients. By finding reliable brain activity patterns, doctors could one day diagnose and manage these symptoms earlier. Dr. Shahriari explained that while conditions like schizophrenia and dementia have been studied for hallucination markers, Parkinson’s lacks specific indicators for diagnosing visual hallucinations. Her team hopes this research will bridge that gap. Joining Dr. Shahriari are experts Dr. Joseph H. Friedman, who will manage patient assessments, and Dr. Ming Shao, who will develop machine learning models to analyze the brain and movement data. Together, they aim to build an advanced system that connects brain signals and blood flow with physical actions to uncover the brain’s complex relationship between vision and movement in Parkinson's. This research could not only pave the way for better diagnosis but also provide clues for future therapies. The team’s findings may help create tools and treatments that improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease.