Department of Defense-funded research may lead to breakthroughs for Parkinson's neuropsychiatric symptom

About half of people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) also face neuropsychiatric issues, such as problems with thinking, sleep disturbances, depression, anxiety, and even hallucinations. Christopher R. Bishop, a psychology professor at Binghamton University, is part of a research team that recently received a four-year, $3 million grant from the Department of Defense to explore the causes of these symptoms in Parkinson’s patients. The research team includes experts from Binghamton, the Barrow Neurological Institute in Arizona, and the University of Illinois in Chicago. They have been collaborating for over three years, working on projects funded by the National Institutes of Health that focus on how the brain adapts to Parkinson’s disease. Veterans are more likely to develop Parkinson’s than the general population, which is why the DOD supports this kind of research. Previous studies have linked changes in serotonin-producing neurons to Parkinson’s disease. Interestingly, when these neurons are treated with L-DOPA, a common Parkinson's medication, they can produce dopamine but do so in an uncontrolled manner, causing significant side effects. Bishop describes this as a kind of “hijacking” of the system, where the disease severity can lead to abnormal changes in brain function. Thanks to new research methods, scientists can now directly alter specific types of brain cells in animal models. So far, they have shown that certain changes in these cells can lead to increased anxiety in animals. Ultimately, the goal of this research is to improve the quality of life for Parkinson’s patients and help manage their symptoms better. The team has even identified some existing medications that could be used to address serotonin-related issues in Parkinson’s, assuming their findings are validated. Collaborating with the Muhammad Ali Parkinson Center gives them access to a large group of Parkinson’s patients and expertise in clinical trials. Bishop emphasizes that the non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s have a biological basis, and their research has revealed that the brain’s compensatory mechanisms involve areas linked to not just movement, but also cognitive, emotional, and sleep functions.