The Translational Brain Research Center (TBRC) is committed to using novel imaging techniques and designs to develop imaging biomarkers for Parkinson’s disease and its related disorders.

The TBRC also is actively investigating the interactive role of genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of these diseases.

Through application of sophisticated pharmacological approaches and participation in clinical trials, the center is committed to advancing treatment for patients with Parkinson’s disease and related disorders, such as multiple system atrophy and progressive supranuclear palsy.

Disease Overview

Parkinson’s disease is a condition that causes some brain cells, particularly those making dopamine, to die. The impacted brain cells help control movement and coordination, so as the disease progresses, patients with Parkinson’s disease experience significant shaking (tremors) and stiffness.

Parkinson’s disease is also called paralysis agitans or shaking palsy.

About 1 million adults in the United States have Parkinson’s disease.

See clinical care information

Research Opportunities: Parkinson’s Disease

These research opportunities are for those in any stage of Parkinson’s disease.

Study title: Discovery of multimodal biomarkers for parkinsonian syndromes, their progression, and pathological relevance

Funder: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Study description: Parkinson’s disease and a number of similar conditions, such as progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy, often look very similar clinically, particularly early in the disease. Since there is no objective way to diagnose these disorders definitively, the current practice is to follow patients over time to “allow the disease to reveal itself.” Evidence indicates, however, that even the best movement disorder specialist can get the diagnosis wrong approximately 25 percent of the time. This lack of diagnostic certainty has limited both clinical practice and research. Efforts from many groups, including the Translational Brain Research Center, have shown that multiple brain MRI and biofluid measures (such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid) of misfolded proteins have great potential for differentiating these similar conditions.

Goal: The goal of this project is to determine whether specific MRI and biofluid measures can help better diagnose Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy patients.

Methodology: In this study of adults 21 or older, both people with probable or possible Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy or multiple system atrophy, as well as people without these conditions, are asked to complete screening, baseline and 12-month visits. After eligibility is confirmed at the screening visit, basic demographic information (such as age, education, dominant hand) and clinical information (such as height, weight and blood pressure) are collected. Subjects are asked to provide a fasting blood sample, complete some questionnaires and a scratch-and-sniff smell test and undergo a brief motor exam and brain MRI. Subjects also may choose to have a lumbar puncture, which is commonly referred to as a spinal tap, performed at their baseline and 12-month visit. They also have the option to donate their brain to the brain donation program following their death. (See the “Brain donation program” section for details.)

See details on Studyfinder

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Study title: Site for Web-based Automated Imaging Differentiation of Parkinsonism

Funder: National Institutes of Health

Study description: Currently, there are no objective markers that can determine whether someone has Parkinson’s disease or another parkinsonian disorder. The purpose of this study is to test the performance of a web-based software tool called Automated Imaging Differentiation of Parkinsonism (wAID-P) as a clinically reliable, non-invasive way to distinguish the different parkinsonian syndromes. Twenty-one sites in the Parkinson Study Group currently are participating in this study.

Goal: The goal of this study is to use a web-based software tool to provide an accurate diagnosis among Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy-parkinsonian type (MSA-P), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) participants across the twenty-one sites. The clinical diagnosis will not be known to the software tool. The diagnosis from the imaging software tool will then be compared to the diagnosis provided by trained movement disorder physicians.

Methodology: After eligibility is confirmed via a phone screening, participants will have an initial study visit and a follow-up visit approximately one year later. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and a memory/thinking assessment, as well as undergo a neurological exam and have vital signs taken, at both visits. An approximately one-hour MRI also will be performed at the first visit.

See details on Studyfinder

Disease Overview

Multiple system atrophy (MSA) is a rare, progressive neurological disorder that affects parts of the brain responsible for controlling movement and involuntary processes, such as blood pressure, heartbeat, urination, bowel movement and sleep patterns. During the disease progression, abnormal deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein accumulate in glial cells, causing nerve cells to function improperly and die. MSA may look like Parkinson’s disease in the way it affects movement, such as tremor, slowness, stiffness and shuffling gait.

Currently, the exact causes of MSA are unknown. Like many other diseases, it may not have a single cause, but may come from a combination of genetic, environmental and behavioral factors.

See clinical care information

Research opportunities

Study title: Discovery of multimodal biomarkers for parkinsonian syndromes, their progression, and pathological relevance

Funder: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Study description: Parkinson’s disease and a number of similar conditions, such as progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy, often look very similar clinically, particularly early in the disease. Since there is no objective way to diagnose these disorders definitively, the current practice is to follow patients over time to “allow the disease to reveal itself.” Evidence indicates, however, that even the best movement disorder specialist can get the diagnosis wrong approximately 25 percent of the time. This lack of diagnostic certainty has limited both clinical practice and research. Efforts from many groups, including the Translational Brain Research Center, have shown that multiple brain MRI and biofluid measures (such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid) of misfolded proteins have great potential for differentiating these similar conditions.

Goal: The goal of this project is to determine whether specific MRI and biofluid measures can help better diagnose Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy patients.

Methodology: In this study of adults 21 or older, both people with probable or possible Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy or multiple system atrophy, as well as people without these conditions, are asked to complete screening, baseline and 12-month visits. After eligibility is confirmed at the screening visit, basic demographic information (such as age, education, dominant hand) and clinical information (such as height, weight and blood pressure) are collected. Subjects are asked to provide a fasting blood sample, complete some questionnaires and a scratch-and-sniff smell test and undergo a brief motor exam and brain MRI. Subjects also may choose to have a lumbar puncture, which is commonly referred to as a spinal tap, performed at their baseline and 12-month visit. They also have the option to donate their brain to the brain donation program following their death. (See the “Brain donation program” section for details.)

See details on Studyfinder

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Study title: Site for Web-based Automated Imaging Differentiation of Parkinsonism

Funder: National Institutes of Health

Study description: Currently, there are no objective markers that can determine whether someone has Parkinson’s disease or another parkinsonian disorder. The purpose of this study is to test the performance of a web-based software tool called Automated Imaging Differentiation of Parkinsonism (wAID-P) as a clinically reliable, non-invasive way to distinguish the different parkinsonian syndromes. Twenty-one sites in the Parkinson Study Group currently are participating in this study.

Goal: The goal of this study is to use a web-based software tool to provide an accurate diagnosis among Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy-parkinsonian type (MSA-P), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) participants across the twenty-one sites. The clinical diagnosis will not be known to the software tool. The diagnosis from the imaging software tool will then be compared to the diagnosis provided by trained movement disorder physicians.

Methodology: After eligibility is confirmed via a phone screening, participants will have an initial study visit and a follow-up visit approximately one year later. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and a memory/thinking assessment, as well as undergo a neurological exam and have vital signs taken, at both visits. An approximately one-hour MRI also will be performed at the first visit.

See details on Studyfinder

Disease Overview

Previously referred to as Steele-Richardson-Olszewski syndrome, progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) is an uncommon neurological disorder that mainly affects the brain regions responsible for controlling movement, including the movement of the eyes, and balance. During the disease process, abnormal deposits of a protein called tau accumulate in nerve cells, causing these cells to function improperly and die. PSP often is misdiagnosed as Parkinson’s disease since both conditions have symptoms that affect movement, such as stiffness, slowness, gait impairment and loss of coordination and balance.

Currently, the exact causes of PSP are unknown. Like many other diseases, it may not have a single cause, but could be caused by a combination of genetic, environmental and behavioral factors.

See clinical care information

Research Opportunities

Study title: Discovery of multimodal biomarkers for parkinsonian syndromes, their progression, and pathological relevance

Funder: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke

Study description: Parkinson’s disease and a number of similar conditions, such as progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy, often look very similar clinically, particularly early in the disease. Since there is no objective way to diagnose these disorders definitively, the current practice is to follow patients over time to “allow the disease to reveal itself.” Evidence indicates, however, that even the best movement disorder specialist can get the diagnosis wrong approximately 25 percent of the time. This lack of diagnostic certainty has limited both clinical practice and research. Efforts from many groups, including the Translational Brain Research Center, have shown that multiple brain MRI and biofluid measures (such as blood and cerebrospinal fluid) of misfolded proteins have great potential for differentiating these similar conditions.

Goal: The goal of this project is to determine whether specific MRI and biofluid measures can help better diagnose Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy and multiple system atrophy patients.

Methodology: In this study of adults 21 or older, both people with probable or possible Parkinson’s, progressive supranuclear palsy or multiple system atrophy, as well as people without these conditions, are asked to complete screening, baseline and 12-month visits. After eligibility is confirmed at the screening visit, basic demographic information (such as age, education, dominant hand) and clinical information (such as height, weight and blood pressure) are collected. Subjects are asked to provide a fasting blood sample, complete some questionnaires and a scratch-and-sniff smell test and undergo a brief motor exam and brain MRI. Subjects also may choose to have a lumbar puncture, which is commonly referred to as a spinal tap, performed at their baseline and 12-month visit. They also have the option to donate their brain to the brain donation program following their death. (See the “Brain donation program” section for details.)

See details on Studyfinder

---

Study title: Site for Web-based Automated Imaging Differentiation of Parkinsonism

Funder: National Institutes of Health

Study description: Currently, there are no objective markers that can determine whether someone has Parkinson’s disease or another parkinsonian disorder. The purpose of this study is to test the performance of a web-based software tool called Automated Imaging Differentiation of Parkinsonism (wAID-P) as a clinically reliable, non-invasive way to distinguish the different parkinsonian syndromes. Twenty-one sites in the Parkinson Study Group currently are participating in this study.

Goal: The goal of this study is to use a web-based software tool to provide an accurate diagnosis among Parkinson’s disease (PD), multiple system atrophy-parkinsonian type (MSA-P), and progressive supranuclear palsy (PSP) participants across the twenty-one sites. The clinical diagnosis will not be known to the software tool. The diagnosis from the imaging software tool will then be compared to the diagnosis provided by trained movement disorder physicians.

Methodology: After eligibility is confirmed via a phone screening, participants will have an initial study visit and a follow-up visit approximately one year later. Participants will be asked to complete questionnaires and a memory/thinking assessment, as well as undergo a neurological exam and have vital signs taken, at both visits. An approximately one-hour MRI also will be performed at the first visit.

See details on Studyfinder

Research Opportunities

Study title: Regional brain manganese accumulation and functional consequences in welders

Funder: This study is funded by the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and is not affiliated with any private entities such as law firms.

Study overview: Inhalation of welding fumes has been known to cause tremor, muscle rigidity and abnormal gait similar to what is seen in Parkinson’s disease. Previous studies by the Translational Brain Research Center have used measures such as brain MRIs and tests for movement and function to investigate the effect of these welding fumes on brain health in active welders. The center is currently expanding its efforts to investigate brain health in retired welders.

Methodology: Study participants are asked to complete screening, baseline and 18-month visits. The screening visit includes an orbital x-ray to make sure that no metal fragments are in the subjects’ eyes, which would prevent an MRI from being performed. After eligibility is confirmed, participants are asked to provide a fasting blood sample, complete lifestyle questionnaires and memory tests and undergo a brief motor exam and brain MRI. Subjects also are mailed a welding exposure questionnaire to complete every three months between their baseline and follow-up visit. Subjects also may choose to participate in a supplemental study. In this project, participants are provided with a smartphone and are asked to complete a variety of short tests and questionnaires over a 14-day period. Adult volunteers both with and without exposure to welding fumes are being recruited.

See details on Studyfinder

Overview

The Translational Brain Research Center is committed to conducting research that may lead to a better understanding and treatment of Parkinson’s disease (PD) and related disorders. Through these efforts, the center hopes to improve the quality of life of its patients, their families and communities.

Previous pathologic studies indicate that approximately 35 percent of subjects with a clinical diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease may end up having a different disease. Consequently, the center has established a brain donation program.

Patients with diagnoses of Parkinson’s disease, progressive supranuclear palsy or multiple system atrophy who are participants in the center’s biomarker studies may also choose to donate their brain to the center for research following their death. This option also is available to these studies’ healthy volunteers.

Studies of the donated brains are designed to accurately determine the conditions present in each participant. This information will be shared with the participant’s family and will be used to improve diagnostic accuracy for future patients.

Methodology

When a participant in the brain donation program passes away, the study team will work with the appropriate funeral home and Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Decedent Care (717-531-7463) to ensure the gift is honored.

Program personnel also are able to coordinate donations with out-of-state facilities.

Learn more

For details on the brain donation program, call 717-531-5233, then dial 4 for Parkinson’s and parkinsonism studies, or email the study team at TBRC@pennstatehealth.psu.edu.