How brain circuit changes and alpha-synuclein buildup affect each other in Parkinson's and Lewy body dementia
Reciprocal interactions between cortical circuit dysfunction and α-synuclein pathology
This project looks at whether alpha-synuclein clumps and abnormal brain circuit activity make each other worse in people with Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of California Los Angeles NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Los Angeles, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11290355 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
Researchers will combine high-resolution brain imaging and laboratory models to watch how alpha-synuclein spreads and alters cortical neuron activity. They will use techniques such as two-photon imaging and targeted changes to neuronal activity in animal and cellular models that mimic Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. The team will test whether modifying neuronal activity speeds up or slows alpha-synuclein accumulation and how that impacts circuits involved in memory and thinking. Results are intended to explain why certain brain regions are more vulnerable and to point to ways to protect cognitive function.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People with Parkinson's disease or dementia with Lewy bodies who have or are concerned about changes in memory, thinking, or cortical symptoms would be the patient group most likely to benefit in the future.
Not a fit: Patients without Parkinson's disease or Lewy body dementia, or those whose symptoms stem from non-alpha-synuclein causes, are unlikely to receive direct benefit from this work.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal targets to prevent or slow cognitive decline in Parkinson's disease and Lewy body dementia.
How similar studies have performed: Prior animal and lab studies suggest links between neuronal activity and alpha-synuclein spread, but the reciprocal circuit-level mechanisms and relevance to human symptoms remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Los Angeles, United States
- University of California Los Angeles — Los Angeles, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Zeiger, William Abel — University of California Los Angeles
- Study coordinator: Zeiger, William Abel
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.