Study Rationale:
In Parkinson’s disease, one of the earliest problems in the brain is a failure of mitochondria—tiny structures that produce energy for cells. This energy failure happens before many symptoms appear, but we currently lack tools to see it in living patients. This project aims to develop a new, safe brain scan using advanced MRI techniques to detect these early energy problems in real time.
Hypothesis:
We believe that a specially prepared form of vitamin B3, made visible to MRI, can show how the brain’s energy system is working and help identify early signs of Parkinson’s disease.
Study Design:
We will use a modified version of vitamin B3 that includes a harmless marker, making it visible in MRI scans when temporarily boosted with special technology. We will test this in lab-grown brain tissue from Parkinson’s patients and in pre-clinical models with known energy deficits in the brain. This will let us watch how energy is used and processed, safely and without surgery.
Impact on Diagnosis/Treatment of Parkinson’s disease:
This imaging tool could help doctors detect Parkinson’s earlier, personalize treatment choices, and monitor how well therapies are working—especially those targeting energy metabolism.
Next Steps for Development:
If the approach works, we will adapt the technique for use in human brain scanners and plan first clinical studies to see if it can be safely used in people with Parkinson’s disease.