Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Edwards

The Dual Role of Neural Activity in Parkinson’s Disease

2021-Present

Parkinson’s Disease (PD) has been defined by the loss of midbrain dopamine neurons and the accumulation of misfolded alpha-synuclein. However, symptoms can occur in the apparent absence of cell loss, indicating physiological dysfunction early in the course of disease. Early changes in function may also contribute to the underlying degeneration, but we know very little about the role of neural activity in the symptoms or the cause of PD. In this program, we manipulate the activity of dopamine neurons to determine its role in both symptoms and the underlying degeneration. We also determine how synuclein influences the role of activity.

Tags
Alpha-synuclein Chemogenetics

Leadership

Robert Edwards

Robert Edwards

Lead PI (Core Leadership)

Glenda Halliday

Glenda Halliday

Collaborating PI

Zayd Khaliq

Zayd Khaliq

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Talia Lerner

Talia Lerner

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Ken Nakamura

Ken Nakamura

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

Alexandra Nelson

Alexandra Nelson

Co-PI (Core Leadership)

James Maas

James Maas

Project Manager

Project Highlights

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Inhibition of Indirect Pathway Activity Causes Abnormal Decision-Making In a Mouse Model of Impulse Control Disorder in Parkinson’s Disease

Parkinson's disease (PD) is characterized by progressive neurodegeneration, which is associated with motor and non-motor symptoms. Dopamine replacement therapy can remediate motor symptoms, but can also cause impulse control disorder (ICD), characterized by pathological gambling, hypersexuality, and/or compulsive shopping. Approximately 14-40% of all medicated PD patients suffer from ICD. Despite the high prevalence of ICD in medicated PD patients, we...

Contributions

Here is an overview of how this team’s article findings have contributed to the PD field as of June 2025. There are two different categorizations of these contributions – one by impact to the PD community and a second by scientific category.

Impact

Category

Accolades

Members of the team have been recognized for their contributions.

Team Edwards

Open Science Champions

Alexandra Nelson, Xiaowen Zhuang, Yuhong Fu

Network Spotlights

Yuhong Fu, Alexandra Nelson

Awards

2023 Collaborative Meeting

COSA Prize Winners 2024

In the News

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