Background pattern of a brain with neural connections

Team Sharott

Defining the neural mechanisms underlying heterogeneity in sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances in Parkinson’s disease

2026-Present

Disturbances in sleep and daily rhythms are amongst of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). In addition to their significant impact on wellbeing, these symptoms may accelerate and exacerbate other aspects of the disease and its progression. In this project, we aim to fully understand the brain activity that is associated with disrupted sleep and alertness, particularly in relation to the disruption of large-scale synchronization of populations of nerve cells that are necessary for sleep. By enhancing and suppressing these activities, we will test whether they cause sleep disturbances and can be targets for future treatment.

Tags
Circadian rhythmDBS/other stimulation interventionsElectrophysiologyMulti-electrode arrayNeurobiologyNeurodegenerationSleep disorders

Contributions

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Accolades

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In the News

Decoding the Blueprint: Advancing Personalized Parkinson’s Treatments

Decoding the Blueprint: Advancing Personalized Parkinson’s Treatments

05/21/2026 — In our community, we often hear: “If you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s, you’ve met one person with Parkinson’s.” This isn’t just an adage — it’s a biological reality. This radical variability is exactly what makes the disease so difficult to outsmart. We’ve learned that a puzzle this fragmented cannot be solved with a single, broad stroke. Our goal isn’t to find one answer for everyone, but the right answer for the right person at the right time.

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