Common a-synuclein-inflammatory routes to Parkinson’s disease and co-morbid depression

This project aims to uncover how viruses and environmental toxins can enter through the gut and nasal cavity and cause changes in the microbiome (microbes that inhabit the body) that contributes to the development of Parkinson’s disease (PD). We hypothesize that these viral and toxin insults disrupt the microbiome and cause a pro-inflammatory environment that will spread through the brain, first damaging neurons that are important for mood and then moving on to kill motor regulatory dopamine neurons, as occurs in PD. Our work will produce a novel highly environmentally relevant model of PD and provide evidence as to what destructive processes should be targeted and when during the disease state.

Faculty Supervisor:

Shawn Hayley;Paul Albert

Student:

Partner:

Turnstone Biologics

Discipline:

Life Sciences

Sector:

Professional, scientific and technical services

University:

Carleton University

Program: