This proposal is in response to RFA-NS-02-010 Parkinson's Disease Neuroprotective Clinical Trials: Clinical Center. Parkinson's disease is a progressive and debilitating neurodegenerative disorder affecting one-percent of the population over the age of 55 years. The primary pathological features of PD are the loss of nigrostriatal dopaminergic neurons and subsequent depletion of striatal dopamine. The cause of PD is currently unknown but both environmental and genetic factors may contribute to the etiology of the disease. Since PD is a progressive disease, pharmacological and/or non-pharmacological modalities may be developed to provide neuroprotection through either protecting/rescuing surviving neurons and slowing disease progression. The primary goal of this proposal is to identify and recruit patients and conduct clinical trials of neuroprotection in early stage PD. An alternative approach to slowing disease progression is by promoting neuroplasticity in surviving nigrostriatal neurons. One possible non-pharmacological intervention is the process of activity-dependent neuroplasticity that may be achieved through long-term exercise (such as treadmill training). The secondary goal of this proposal is to determine if long-term treadmill training attenuates disease progression in PD through activity dependent neuroplasticity.

Agency
National Institute of Health (NIH)
Institute
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Type
Cooperative Clinical Research--Cooperative Agreements (U10)
Project #
1U10NS044462-01
Application #
6545968
Study Section
Special Emphasis Panel (ZNS1-SRB-L (01))
Program Officer
Ravina, Bernard M
Project Start
2002-09-15
Project End
2007-08-31
Budget Start
2002-09-15
Budget End
2003-08-31
Support Year
1
Fiscal Year
2002
Total Cost
$119,438
Indirect Cost
Name
University of Southern California
Department
Neurology
Type
Schools of Medicine
DUNS #
041544081
City
Los Angeles
State
CA
Country
United States
Zip Code
90089