The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson's Podcast

Latest Episodes:

The Role of Inflammation and Immune Responses in Neurodegeneration with Malú Gámez Tansey Dec 19, 2023

Show notes

A growing body of evidence is expanding our understanding of the links between inflammation, our immune responses, brain health, and neurodegeneration. In particular, several genes associated with Parkinson's (including LRRK2) are known to be involved in inflammation, and peripheral inflammation has been shown to influence brain function and contribute to the development of neurodegenerative diseases. Better understanding the roles of inflammation and our immune responses in Parkinson's disease is important for developing new treatments and strategies to slow or prevent disease progression. In this episode, Dr. Malú Gámez Tansey talks about her research at the intersection of immunology, neuroscience, and genetics. She describes new findings and current projects in her lab, discusses advances in neuroimmunology, and shares her insights on important areas of opportunity in the field. Malú is the Norman and Susan Fixel Chair in Parkinson's Disease, Professor of Neuroscience and Neurology, and Director of the Parkinson's Foundation Research Center of Excellence at the University of Florida College of Medicine. She's also editor-in-chief of Nature Partner Journal Parkinson's Disease.

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All Grit. No Quit. is our bold Campaign to raise $2.5 billion by 2028. This is our biggest push yet toward a world without Parkinson's and we need to bring the full force of our community to meet this moment. Whatever brings you here, you can be a part of accelerating what comes next. michaeljfox.org/campaign/all-grit-no-quit

This podcast episode was part of a limited series created by The Michael J. Fox Foundation in 2023 and 2024 for clinicians and researchers in our audience. These episodes provide a deeper dive into exciting new scientific research in Parkinson’s disease, as well as innovative tools and valuable resources, through conversations with a variety of experts in the field. We hope you enjoy the conversation.

Elucidating the Pathobiology of LRRK2 in Parkinson's Disease with Dario Alessi Dec 05, 2023

Show notes

Mutations in the LRRK2 gene were first linked to Parkinson's disease (PD) risk in 2004. Since then, researchers from around the world have advanced our understanding of the mechanisms through which LRRK2 may contribute to PD, leading to the development of three potential LRRK2-targeted therapies that are now being evaluated in clinical trials. Along with colleagues and collaborators, Dr. Dario Alessi has pioneered new research and approaches that have aided in the development of drugs to inhibit LRRK2 and potentially treat people with Parkinson's disease. In this episode Dario discusses his work developing the LRRK2 kinase assay, LRRK2 Ser935 dephosphorylation assay, and Rab phosphorylation assay, as well as future directions and opportunities in the field. This year, Dario received the 2023 Robert A. Pritzker Prize for Leadership in Parkinson’s Research for his substantial research contribution and his commitment to mentoring the next generation of Parkinson’s scientists. Dario is the Professor of Signal Transduction and Science Director of the Medical Research Council Protein Phosphorylation and Ubiquitylation Unit at the University of Dundee.

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A Year Like No Other in Parkinson’s Research: 2023 in Review (Webinar Audio) Nov 29, 2023

Show notes

In a year of remarkable progress for the Parkinson’s field, we’re entering a new era for better understanding the biology of the disease, with the identification of a breakthrough biomarker accelerating new therapeutics through the clinical pipeline and legislators on Capitol Hill moving toward legislation that unites the federal government on a mission to treat, prevent and cure Parkinson’s disease.

What does this progress mean for researchers studying Parkinson’s and for those living with the disease? And what will come next?

Tune in as scientists and staff from The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF) answer these questions and share insights in our latest Third Thursdays Webinar.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your network. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0 

Join a study today to help speed progress toward better treatments and a cure for Parkinson’s disease. To search for studies in your area, visit Fox Trial Finder at foxtrialfinder.org.

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything. Find out more at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

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New Frontiers in Deep Brain Stimulation Research for Parkinson’s disease with Michael Okun Nov 21, 2023

Show notes

For decades, researchers, clinicians, and industry professionals have continued to study and optimize deep brain stimulation (DBS) with the goal of providing the best possible personalized treatment for Parkinson’s disease (PD) and other neurological conditions. In this episode, Dr. Michael Okun joins us to discuss his research and some of the recent advances in deep brain stimulation and other areas. He draws from his extensive research and clinical experience applying DBS and neuromodulation therapies for patients with PD, Tourette syndrome, tic disorders, dystonia, essential tremor, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. Michael is co-founder and co-director of the Norman Fixel Institute for Neurological Diseases at the University of Florida, as well as Medical Advisor for the Parkinson’s Foundation. He is a board-certified neurologist, movement disorders specialist, neuroscientist, author, and an expert on deep brain stimulation and neuromodulation for movement disorders.

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Genetics Discovery Underscores Importance of Diversity in Parkinson’s Disease Research Nov 15, 2023

Show notes

In a groundbreaking discovery earlier this year, a global consortium founda new variant in the GBA gene that is associated with a higher risk of Parkinson’s disease (PD) for people of African ancestry. The finding marks the first African ancestry-specific genetic risk factor for Parkinson’s disease. In this podcast, researchers share the human stories behind the discovery, which underscores the importance of international collaboration and the participation of underrepresented communities in research.

Themes covered in this discussion:

(02:05) – Breaking down the genetic discovery and why it’s important for PD research
(05:27) – More on the genetic samples that resulted in this discovery
(06:53) –Why the GBA1 gene is of interest and its connection to PD
(11:13) – How the Global Parkinson’s Genetics Program (GP2) maintains privacy and confidentiality of data from study participants
(13:15) – How people should think about genetics as a risk factor for PD
(14:55) – Capacity building and building community trust
(19:57) –Why this discovery takes us closer to finding better treatments and a cure for PD
(21:51) – Story behind accidental discovery of GBA1 variant
(22:50) – Background on GP2 and excitement on the GBA1 variant discovery
(33:17) – Ethnicity and health risk factors and other determinants of health
(35:03) – Importance of diversity, equity and inclusion in science and to The Michael J. Fox Foundation’s mission
(36:52) – Research in PD historically focused on people of Northern European ancestry
(38:09) –Why people from underrepresented groups need to lead these studies
(39:30) – Importance of including underrepresented populations across the research pipeline
(40:18) –Why research participation is important and how you can get involved

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your network.https://apple.co/3p02Jw0 

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything. Find out more at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi

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Understanding Sleep Differences in Parkinson’s Disease with Dr. Amy Amara Nov 07, 2023

Show notes

Sleep impacts our lives in many different ways, and Dr. Amy Amara joins us in this episode to discuss her career and findings from her research on sleep in Parkinson’s disease (PD). She shares her insights on the characteristics of sleep in people with Parkinson’s disease, how sleep can be impacted by exercise, medications, and deep brain stimulation, and how studying rapid eye movement (REM) sleep behavior disorder may be important for developing early treatments before PD motor symptoms manifest. Amy is a Professor of Neurology at CU Anschutz School of Medicine who is an expert on quantitative electroencephalography, sleep disorders, and neurodegenerative disease.

This podcast is geared toward researchers and clinicians. If you live with Parkinson’s or have a friend or family member with PD, listen to The Michael J. Fox Foundation Parkinson’s Podcast. Hear from scientists, doctors and people with Parkinson's on different aspects of life with the disease as well as research toward treatment breakthroughs at https://www.michaeljfox.org/podcasts.

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Ask Us Anything: Answers to Your Questions about Gut Health and Parkinson’s (Webinar Audio) Nov 01, 2023

Show notes

People with Parkinson’s disease (PD) have lots of questions about probiotics, prebiotics, laxatives and fiber. That’s because constipation and bloating are some of the more bothersome but less talked about symptoms of PD. In this audio from our Third Thursdays Webinar, experts and people with PD discuss effective ways for managing constipation and other gut-related symptoms. You’ll also learn about emerging treatments for constipation, the gut-brain connection and why the gut is linked to Parkinson’s.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your network. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0 

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything. Find out more at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

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Industry Contributions and Collaborations in Parkinson's Research with Karoly Nikolich Oct 17, 2023

Show notes

In this episode, serial entrepreneur Dr. Karoly Nikolich shares his perspectives on the industry side of the state of neuroscience, as well as areas of opportunity and the role of industry in advancing the field. He also discusses recent major breakthroughs, the importance of industry partnerships, including collaborations with The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), and how he is working to advance Parkinson's disease research through his work at Alkahest and other endeavors. Karoly is a scientific advisor at Bayshore Global Management and at Pivotal Bioventures. In addition, he is Chairman and Executive Advisor at Alkahest Inc., and also an Adjunct Professor of Psychiatry at Stanford University. Karoly has extensive expertise in the biotech and neuro-therapeutics industries, and he also manages his foundation, the Scholar Nikolich Foundation.

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The Parkinson's Research Landscape and the Role of MJFF with Brian Fiske and Mark Frasier Oct 12, 2023

Show notes

New research advances are expanding our knowledge of Parkinson's disease and bringing us closer to the ultimate goals of new treatments, effective cures, and disease prevention. In this introductory episode, you'll hear from Dr. Brian Fiske and Dr. Mark Frasier, Co-Chief Scientific Officers at The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson's Research (MJFF). During the conversation, they provide their perspectives on the state of the field of Parkinson's disease research, describe new advances in biomarkers for Parkinson's disease, and discuss progress in the development of novel therapeutics. They also share insights on resources and tools being developed to advance Parkinson's research, MJFF's research strategy, and what it could mean for your research.

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Finding Your Way: Working through Emotions in Early Years with Parkinson’s (Webinar Replay) Sep 27, 2023

Show notes

Shock, doubt, anxiety — a diagnosis of Parkinson’s can trigger these and many other difficult emotions. This replay of audio from our Third Thursdays Webinar features a conversation among people with Parkinson’s about how they processed the emotional aftermath and navigated the early years following their diagnosis. We also hear from a psychologist who specializes in Parkinson’s about what she’s learned about how people deal with this life-changing diagnosis and ways to manage the emotions in a positive way.

Like our podcasts? Please consider leaving a rating or review and sharing the series with your network. https://apple.co/3p02Jw0 

Whether you have Parkinson’s or not, you can help move research forward. Join the study that’s changing everything. Find out more at michaeljfox.org/podcast-ppmi.

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