The role of SV2A in PD and PD Dementia
Research type
Research Study
Full title
The role of Synaptic vesicle protein 2A (SV2A) in patients with early Parkinson’s disease and cognitive impairment: An in vivo positron emission tomography study
IRAS ID
205849
Contact name
Marios Politis
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
King's College London
Duration of Study in the UK
3 years, 0 months, 1 days
Research summary
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common, disabling, neurodegenerative disorder. In addition to classical motor symptoms, non-motor features such as cognitive decline are a very important aspect of the disease, as it brings an additional significant burden for the patient and caregivers. The mechanisms underlying neurodegeneration and loss of dopaminergic signalling in PD are still only partially understood. Synaptic vesicle glycoprotein 2A (SV2A) is a protein expressed in the brain, which regulates the function of nerve cells and synapses. Synapses are important structures that permit nerve cells to communicate to each other. Nerve cells that lose their ability to communicate to each other tend to die. We have now developed a chemical compound called [11C]UCB-J which is used together with positron emission tomography (PET) scan and can measure SV2A in the brain and therefore assess the amount of synapses in the human brain including in people with Parkinson’s disease.
In this study, we hypothesize that SV2A will be decreased in the brain of people with Parkinson’s disease and this may be one of the critical mechanisms underlying the development of Parkinson’s disease. If this hypothesis is true, this study could facilitate the development of potential new treatments aiming to delay the loss of nerve cells.
Each participant will receive one SV2A PET scan and one 3-Tesla MRI scan:
Group A: up to 18 early PD patients with no cognitive impairment
Group B: up to 18 patients with PD dementia (PDD)
Group C: up to 18 age- and sex-matched healthy controls.REC name
London - Bromley Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
16/LO/1129
Date of REC Opinion
21 Jun 2016
REC opinion
Favourable Opinion