We aim to understand the molecular basis for locomotor impairment in aging and Parkinson's disease.  Our immediate and long-term goals are to discover molecular, pharmacological, and non-invasive (exercise, calorie restriction) approaches that can target proteins associated with motor impairment, which can reduce or eliminate locomotor impairment.



Latest News:
August 24, 2024
Announcing the Parkinson Discovery Institute 
Parkinson's disease (PD) patients and their caregivers and families will soon have a new place to find group exercise programs, caregiver respite, and educational updates on PD treatment and management, and the latest in PD research.   Currently located in the well-established physical therapy center, Clearcut Ortho https://clearcutortho.com/  the Parkinson Discovery Institute (PDI) has begun its mission to serve PD patients, caregivers, physicians, and other providers with group exercise and updates on the latest research.   The PDI was established as a non-profit organization earlier this year.  We will have a table at the upcoming Fight Night event sponsored by the Punching Out Parkinson's Program here in Fort Worth https://punchingoutparkinsons.org/ if you want to learn more about us.  Some of our published exercise research will be available in a limited number of reprints.











August 21, 2024
New publication in Experimental Neurology
We are pleased to report our latest publication that features our studies of the effect of aerobic exercise in Parkinson's disease (PD).  Using a well-established rat model of PD, we began treadmill exercise in rats that already had established motor impairment; thus reflecting the human condition at PD diagnosis.  This motor impairment was associated with the severe loss of dopamine that is seen in striatum in patients.  Over the next 3 weeks, the rats exercised 3 times/week at moderate intensity (60-70% of maximum heart rate).  We found that the aerobic exercise promoted recovery of the established motor impairment but did not require any recovery of dopamine in the striatum.  We further found evidence that biomarkers of PD severity were reduced in these exercised rats compared to their non-exercised cohorts.   A link o the article is here and is freely available
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014488624002012?via%3Dihub=

May 16, 2024
New publication in Frontiers in Neuroscience

Dr. Isabel Soto is first author on the latest publication from our lab looking at the rat genetic PD model, Pink1 knockout, to characterize cognitive deficits in a methodology more aligned with human-based assessments.  Her findings show that Pink1 knockout rats have impairment in maze navigation.  This indicates the model may serve as a basis for determining the neurobiological basis of executive function impairment.
https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/neuroscience/articles/10.3389/fnins.2024.1390215/full?field&journalName=Frontiers_in_Neuroscience&id=1390215

May 6, 2024
Congratulations, Dr. Isabel Soto
Doctoral candidate, Isabel Soto, is now Dr. Isabel Soto, Ph.D..  She passed her dissertation defense today with distinction, excelling in all 3 major categories following her public seminar and defense of her dissertation entitled "EXAMINING THE IMPACT OF AEROBIC EXERCISE ON COGNITION, MOBILITY, AND
BIOMARKERS IN EARLY-STAGE PARKINSON'S DISEASE: A TRANSLATIONAL STUDY
USING THE PINK1 KNOCK-OUT RAT MODEL".










April 16, 2024
New publication in Experimental Neurology
Doctoral candidate Isabel Soto is first author on a rigorous study of the Pink1 knockout rat, wherein the impact of aging on locomotor and cognitive function are linked to differences in dopamine and norepinephrine levels in substantia nigra and prefrontal cortex.   The paper is entitled "Aging accelerates locomotor decline in PINK1 knockout rats in association with decreased nigral, but not striatal, dopamine and tyrosine hydroxylase expression".
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0014488624000979
This study addresses whether aging is a key "hit" for the onset of locomotor impairment which has, and has not, been reported in previous studies.  We hypothesized that aging would provide the neurobiological background to accelerate locomotor decline.  
Congratulations to Isabel on her first 1st author manuscript on a very high quality study.

January 10, 2024
Review of the role of dopamine in Parkinson's disease and aging-related parkinsonism to be published.
The review entitled "Dopamine signaling in substantia nigra and its impact on locomotor function; not a new concept, but neglected reality" will be published in the special issue "Dopamine, Histamine, Serotonin-Receptors, Ligands, and Their Biological Role in Central Nervous System Diseases" has been accepted for publication in the International Journal of Molecular Sciences.  https://www.mdpi.com/journal/ijms/special_issues/L15GF20Y03
https://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/25/2/1131


Oct 21 2023
Moving Day, Parkinson's Foundation
Moving Day promotes 
awareness of the critical
importance to exercise,
and keep busy, in spite of
having Parkinson's.  At
Univ Texas-Arlington,
Moving Day for DFW was
a very successful event.
The track was filled with
participants with PD,
those caring for one
with PD, and those helping
with providing exercise and other programs.  We were delighted to take part with our dog, Lily (who was 
very much welcome).

Aug 25 2023
New publication in Experimental Neurology.

Our new study offers insight as to why motor impairment in Parkinson's disease occurs only when the loss of nigrostriatal dopamine neurons is severe.   This compensatory process we found occurs in the substantia nigra, not striatum, and gives a possible clue for a therapeutic strategy to improve motor impairment in patients.   
Nigral-specific increase in ser31 phosphorylation compensates for tyrosine hydroxylase protein and nigrostriatal neuron loss: Implications for delaying parkinsonian signs

Manuscript to be published in Experimental Neurology
We received notice that our article entitled "DIfferential expression of RET and GDNF family receptor, GFR-a1, between striatum and substantia nigra following nigrostriatal lesion: a case for diminished GDNF-signaling" has been accepted for publication.  This study shows that GDNF receptors are diminished in expression as nigrostriatal neuron loss progresses.  This finding has direct implications to why GDNF therapy in Parkinson's patients may not have been as effective as anticipated.  

Congratulations to Isabel Soto
Senior graduate student Isabel Soto won well-earned recognition for her oral presentation, " Evaluating the Impact of Exercise on UCH-L1, GFAP, and S100B on Early-Stage Parkinson’s Disease: A Translation Study using Pink1-/- and 6-OHDA rats" of her dissertation work on biomarker equivalents in human PD and 2 rat PD models (6-OHDA and Pink1) at the Annual Neurobiology of Aging Symposium held May 9, 2023 at UNTHSC.   She was one of 3 students awarded this distinction.