MJFF Funding Novel Study of Anxiety Mechanisms in Parkinson’s

A research grant from The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research (MJFF) will support a new study that’s investigating the biological mechanisms underlying anxiety as a symptom of Parkinson’s disease.

Titled “Investigating the Mechanisms of Alpha-synuclein-induced Anxiety in a Novel Preclinical Model of Parkinson’s Disease,” the project will explore whether the accumulation of alpha-synuclein — a protein strongly linked to Parkinson’s development — in a brain region called the amygdala contributes to anxiety development. This brain region is critical for processing emotional and sensory responses, such as fear, anxiety, and aggression.