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TRACE-PD (Tracking the mechanisms of disease progression and functional compensation in the early phase of Parkinson’s disease)

Description

Increasing evidence indicates that Parkinson's disease involves a complex interplay between neuronal loss and compensatory mechanisms in the brain. In the early stages, these compensatory processes can partially mitigate disease-related changes, such as declining dopamine levels. However, motor symptoms most likely emerge when these mechanisms fail.

To date, the therapeutic potential of these mechanisms has received relatively little attention. Few studies have systematically investigated how the interplay between brain damage and the failure of these processes drives early Parkinson's symptoms. Our JPND-funded consortium aims to address this research gap by leveraging expertise in molecular and structural brain imaging, neurophysiology, and movement disorders. We will investigate neuronal loss and counteracting mechanisms in the early phase of the disease, apply our analysis methods to datasets from additional partners (Nijmegen–Marburg–Cologne), and promote training for early-career scientists in methods developed abroad (Marburg–Nijmegen, Marburg–Stockholm). This project is nationally funded by the BMBF for three years.

The project encompasses five subprojects focused primarily on analyzing existing brain imaging data from patients in the early stages of Parkinson's disease. We will examine indicators of neuronal loss and compensatory mechanisms, including "compensation" and "reserve," both during motor tasks and at rest. Our goal is to identify neurobiological patterns that characterize early Parkinson's stages by jointly considering brain damage and reorganization in relation to motor and cognitive symptoms. Through cross-country data and protocol sharing, we aim to establish a foundation for staging models that capture comprehensive brain changes. In the long term, these results may inform new therapeutic approaches that target both processes, for example, by strengthening counteracting mechanisms.

Contact

Dr. Marina Ruppert-Junck
Mrs. Anneke Below
Telefone: 06421/58 - 65299
Telefax: 06421/58 - 67055
marina.ruppert@

* please add "uni-marburg.de" for a full email-address.