Brain circuit activity in Parkinson's linked to depression
Basal Ganglia Network Neurophysiology of Depression in Parkinson’s Disease
This project looks for specific brain signals in people with Parkinson's that relate to depression and that might show who could get mood benefit from deep brain stimulation.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Salt Lake City, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11502751 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join, researchers will record electrical activity from basal ganglia brain regions in people with Parkinson's who have or are getting deep brain stimulation (DBS) in either the globus pallidus interna (GPi) or subthalamic nucleus (STN). They will compare recordings from participants who have depression to those who do not, and track mood changes after DBS. Computer modeling and brain-network mapping will be used to identify common patterns of activity linked to depression and to improvement in mood after DBS. The goal is to find where and how brain activity should be adjusted to help reduce depression symptoms in Parkinson's patients.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are people with Parkinson's disease who have clinically significant depression (or are being evaluated for it) and who are candidates for or already have DBS targeting the GPi or STN.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's, those with depression unrelated to Parkinson's, or Parkinson's patients who are not DBS candidates or unwilling to undergo device procedures are unlikely to participate or benefit directly.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could help doctors target DBS more effectively to reduce depression and improve quality of life for people with Parkinson's.
How similar studies have performed: Previous DBS studies show mood can both improve and worsen after stimulation and early recordings suggest network signals relate to mood, but reliably targeting basal ganglia networks to treat depression in PD is still a novel goal.
Where this research is happening
Salt Lake City, United States
- Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah — Salt Lake City, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Johnson, Kara Ann — Utah State Higher Education System--University of Utah
- Study coordinator: Johnson, Kara Ann
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.