Hoping to eventually develop customized treatment options and ease some of the symptoms of Parkinson’s disease, researchers at the University Medical School are currently looking into the link between genetics and memory loss in Parkinson’s patients.
Parkinson’s, which affects one in 500 people worldwide, develops when nerve cells in the brain are unable to produce dopamine, a neurotransmitter that helps the brain control movement. The loss of dopamine leads to symptoms such as tremors, rigidity of muscles and slowness of movement, and may cause depression, anxiety and cognitive impairment.
By analyzing genetic data available through the National Institute for Health, the research team, led by Asst. Neurology Prof. Matthew Barrett, hopes to find new types of treatments for the disease.
From personal experience, Barrett said he is highly aware of the impacts Parkinson’s can have on patients. Ultimately, he said he hopes to discover something more than a medication that simply masks the symptoms of the disease, instead focusing his efforts on the roots of the disease and a possible cure.
“It’s exciting to be able to launch this project,” he said. “I’m very happy to be back at U.Va. and I am looking forward to building a research program to better understand the genetic basis of Parkinson’s disease.”
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