Request for Funding

Medical Student Research Fellowship for Summer 2002

Mentor: Padraig O'Suilleabhain MD
Department: Neurology
Room number: J3.134
Mail Code: 9036
Phone number: 214 648 7964
E-mail: Padraig.osuilleabhain@UTSouthwestern.edu
Project title: Clinical correlates of serum homocysteine levels in Parkinson disease

Human subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): Pending

Animal subjects IRB approved project number (where applicable): NA

Project Type patient based

Brief Description of Project:
Elevated HC, perhaps because it is a marker of methylation dysequilibrium, has been prospectively associated with neurologic deterioration for example in Alzheimer dementia. We hypothesize that some of the neurodegeneration and neuropsychiatric deterioration seen in PD is causally associated with this potentially reversible metabolic dysequilibrium. 160 volunteers with PD (5 per morning during the summer) will be examined in the morning in the "off" state (10 hours after the last dose of anti-PD medication) and fasting for 10 hours. 10 cc of blood would be drawn for measuring HC and related amines and vitamins, and for establishing the MTHFR genotype. The Unified PD rating scale would be graded and the usual morning dose of PD drugs. Another 5 cc of serum would be drawn and the rating scale repeated at 2 hours. In the interim, a dietary survey will be completed and a battery of mood (Hamilton depression index) and cognition (Kokmen, Trails A, word symbol, Stroop, Rey Osterrich) scales will be completed. At 12 months, 24 months and potentially at 48 months these procedures will be repeated (likely by a different medical student). For the summer 2002 report, the retrospective rate of deterioration (disability divided by years since diagnosis) will be analyzed as a function of 2002 fasting homocysteine. This data will also be baseline for future projects in which the prospective rate of deterioration will be analyzed as a function of 2002 homocysteine level.

Previous Research Activities or Publications with Medical Students:

I have not done research with med students previously. The closest thing was a STARS project which I undertook in summer 2000. The project was somewhat similar (i.e. clinical metrics in Parkinson disease). It resulted in a publication in a fairly prestigious journal
O'Suilleabhain PE, Bullard JA, Dewey RB. "Proprioception in Parkinson's Disease Is Acutely Depressed by Dopaminergic Medications", Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery and Psychiatry 2001; 71: 607-610

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