Exploring the brain mechanisms of depression in Parkinson's disease
Official title: Identifying and targeting the neural basis of depression in Parkinson's disease
Funded at Yale University · NIH-11014387 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how depression affects the brains of people with Parkinson's disease to find out what’s happening in their brains and help create better treatments for them.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Yale University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New Haven, United States) |
| Project start | April 1, 2024 |
| Project end | March 31, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $558,752 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS125482-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11014387 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who also experience symptoms of depression.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with Parkinson's disease who do not experience depression or those with other unrelated mental health conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the unique neural mechanisms underlying depression in patients with Parkinson's disease (dPD). It aims to identify specific synaptic and network-level changes in the brain that contribute to depression, which often occurs before motor symptoms in Parkinson's. Using advanced imaging techniques like PET and fMRI, the study will compare brain activity and structure in individuals with dPD, those with Parkinson's without depression, individuals with major depressive disorder, and healthy controls. The goal is to uncover new treatment targets that could lead to more effective therapies for depression in Parkinson's disease.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to targeted treatments for depression in Parkinson's disease, improving quality of life for affected patients.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in identifying brain mechanisms related to depression, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
Yale University
New Haven, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Holmes, Sophie — Yale University
- Study coordinator: Holmes, Sophie
Related research
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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.