Neurosciences Commons^™

Dopamine-Endocannabinoid Crosstalk Drives Exercise-Induced Bidirectional Plasticity In Parkinson's Disease, Federica Campanelli, Gioia Marino, Giuseppina Natale, Maria De Carluccio, Tabitha N. Rodriguez, Michelle Smeyne, Richard Jay Smeyne, Veronica Ghiglieri, Paolo Calabresi

Department of Neuroscience Faculty Papers

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder marked by loss of substantia nigra dopaminergic neurons. Epidemiological evidence indicates that lifelong physical activity reduces both PD incidence and slows disease progression. Here, we examine how voluntary exercise induces long-lasting neuroprotection of the corticostriatal function in a murine model of α-synuclein–driven nigrostriatal pathology. In preformed fibril (PFF)-injected mice, long-lasting voluntary wheel running prevents degeneration of nigrostriatal dopaminergic terminals and improves motor performances. Intensive exercise normalizes spontaneous glutamatergic transmission and preserves corticostriatal long-term potentiation (LTP) in striatal spiny projection neurons. Exercise-induced LTP is dependent on activation of dopamine (DA) DA1, GluN2B-expressing NMDA and …

Decentralizing Dementia Research To The Us–Mexico Border: The Rio Grande Valley Ad-Rcmar As A Model For Translational Equity, Gladys E. Maestre, John Blangero, Eron Manusov, Gabriel A. De Erausquin, Francisco Fernandez, Silvia Mejia-Arango, Vincent P. Diego, Juan C. Lopez-Alvarenga, Claudia Alaniz, Neyra García, Rosa V. Pirela, Andrew Tsin, Michael Mahaney

School of Medicine Publications

Translational equity means ensuring that diagnostics, treatments, care models, and prevention strategies are developed and implemented so they work for populations with the greatest burden and least access to care. In Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (ADRD), where most evidence derives from highly educated, non-Hispanic White participants at large academic centers, translational equity is critical to prevent misclassification, limited access, and widening disparities and to ensure that underrepresented communities shape how new knowledge moves into practice. Hispanic and other populations in the United States are disproportionately affected by ADRD yet remain underrepresented in research, with gaps especially pronounced in high-poverty …

Mitigating Disparities In Diagnosis Of Dementia, Lycia Tramujas Vasconcellos Neumann, Simin Mahinrad, Erin L. Abner, Soo Borson, Goldie S. Byrd, Maria Carrillo, Lindsay Clark, Anthony N. Correro Ii, Kacie D. Deters, Gladys E. Maestre

School of Medicine Publications

The field of Alzheimer's disease and related dementias (AD/ADRD) is undergoing a transformative shift with a better understanding of disease biology, biomarker-based diagnostics, and disease-modifying therapies. Yet, these advancements risk exacerbating existing disparities in diagnosis and care. The 2024 Alzheimer's Association International Conference (AAIC) Advancements: Exploring Equity in Diagnosis convened interdisciplinary experts to address these inequities and chart a path toward population-generalizable research and practice. This article synthesizes key insights from the conference, highlighting considerations for inclusive and representative research design, ethical approaches in diagnostic disclosure, as well as challenges and solutions at individual, community, and systemic levels to advance …

Assessing Shifts In Research Priority Areas From The Neurological Community Before And After The Covid-19 Pandemic, Leah Dempsey, Travis Cruickshank, Mitchell Turner, Manja Laws, Danielle Bartlett, Barby Singer, Onno Van Der Groen, Moira Sim, Mandy Stanley

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: People living with a neurological condition face many difficulties in daily life, impacting their function and quality of life (QoL). There is currently no cure to many neurological conditions, therefore identifying interventions to improve QoL is of high importance. COVID-19 changed society in many ways and understanding the research priorities from the neurological community post pandemic is urgently needed to ensure resources are used efficiently and aligned with the needs and priorities of the community. To better understand the priority areas, it is essential for individuals with lived experience to have input into priority areas for research. Therefore, the …

Higher Sodium Intake Is Associated With Episodic Memory Decline In Cognitively Unimpaired Older Males: A 6-Year Longitudinal Study, Francisca Chuwa, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Hilal Salim Said Al Shamsi, Hamid Sohrabi, Kevin Taddei, Colin L. Masters, Ralph N. Martins, Samantha L. Gardener

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Recent evidence has suggested an association between high sodium intake and development of cognitive impairment. However, while animal studies demonstrate consistent relationships between sodium intake and cognitive impairment, this relationship remains less clear in humans. Our aim was to investigate the relationship between self-reported baseline sodium intake and cognitive decline over 72 months. Cognitively unimpaired participants (n = 1208) from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study were included (70.87 years of age; 41 % male). Participants completed a food frequency questionnaire to quantify sodium intake and underwent comprehensive neuropsychological assessment at baseline and four additional timepoints, 18 months apart. …

Age-Related Increase In Plasma P-Tau217 In Amyloid-Beta–Negative Cognitively Unimpaired Individuals Affects Diagnostic Interpretation, Anna E. Mammel, Fernando Gonzalez-Ortiz, Ali Mousavi, Kelsey Hallett, Mary Encarnacion, Don Biehl, Pradip Gill, Sazan Ismael, Christopher Fowler, James D. Doecke, Larry Ward, Hans Frykman

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: The extent to which non-pathological aging influences plasma biomarkers remains unclear. Here, we investigate factors influencing plasma p-tau217 levels in cognitively unimpaired (CU), amyloid-beta–negative (Aβ-) individuals. Methods: Plasma p-tau217 was measured in CU Aβ- positron emission tomography–negative (PET-) participants using two immunoassays (ALZpath n = 360 and LUMIPULSE G1200 n = 73). Associations between p-tau217 and age groups (60–69, 70–79, and 80+ years), apolipoprotein E (APOE) genotype, and gender were evaluated. Results: ALZpath plasma p-tau217 showed a non-pathological age-related increase (p < 0.001), and increased percentage within the intermediate zone with age. Lumipulse p-tau217 showed an increase in the percentage of subjects with positive results with age, however, this trend was not significant (p > 0.05). Men had higher levels of p-tau217 only with the ALZpath assay (p = 0.02; Lumipulse: p = …

Evidence For Direct And Sleep-Moderated Relationships Between Aquaporin-4 Genetic Variants And Alzheimer's Disease Phenotypes, Tenielle Porter, Ayeisha Milligan Armstrong, Eleanor K. O'Brien, Vincent Doré, Pierrick Bourgeat, Mitchell Turner, Paul Maruff, Christopher C. Rowe, Belinda M. Brown, Victor L. Villemagne, Stephanie R. Rainey-Smith, Simon M. Laws

Research outputs 2022 to 2026

Introduction: Variants in the aquaporin-4 gene (AQP4) have been associated with Alzheimer's disease (AD) diagnosis, cognition, and brain amyloid beta (Aβ) and may affect the sleep and Aβ relationship. Their association with other AD-related phenotypes/disease progression remain largely unknown. Methods: Associations between AQP4 variants, self-reported sleep measures, and AD-related phenotypes in cognitively unimpaired individuals with evidence of Aβ accumulation were examined using data from the Australian Imaging, Biomarkers and Lifestyle study. Results: AQP4 variants were directly associated with regional brain volumes, atrophy, and cognition. They were also associated with differences in regional brain volumes and atrophy in interaction with sleep …

Efficacy And Safety Of A Bodyweight-Adjusted Higher Dose Of Ocrelizumab In Relapsing (Musette) And Primary Progressive (Gavotte) Multiple Sclerosis: Two Multicentre, Randomised, Double-Blind, Parallel-Group Phase 3b Trials., Stephen L Hauser, Gavin Giovannoni, Xavier Montalban, Jiwon Oh, Amit Bar-Or, Maria Pia Sormani, Martin S Weber, Sharon Stoll, Jacqueline A Nicholas, Tetyana Nehrych, Robert Bonek, Krzysztof Selmaj, Maciej Maciejowski, Dusanka Zecevic, Catarina Raposo, Rebecca Owen, Ulrike Bonati, Katrin Madjar, Eva Harfst, Qing Wang, Anastasiia Raievska, Marianna Manfrini, Hans-Martin Schneble, Ludwig Kappos, Musette And Gavotte Study Groups

Neuroscience Articles

BACKGROUND: Ocrelizumab is a humanised anti-CD20 monoclonal antibody approved for people with relapsing (RMS) or primary progressive multiple sclerosis (PPMS). In a post-hoc analysis of phase 3 trials in RMS and PPMS using a 600 mg dose, higher exposure to ocrelizumab was associated with greater B-cell depletion and lower risk of confirmed disability progression. Here, we prospectively assessed the efficacy and safety of a high dose of ocrelizumab in patients with RMS or PPMS.

METHODS: Two multicentre, double-blind, phase 3 controlled trials were conducted to compare high-dose ocrelizumab with the approved 600 mg dose of the drug in patients with …

Environmental And Pharmacological Modulation Of Opioid-Mediated Behavioral Effects In Rats, Corinne Ann Gallagher

Theses and Dissertations

Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) and opioid-associated overdoses continue to pose significant burden to US healthcare systems—both financially and in lives lost. It is imperative to identify risk factors which may predispose vulnerability to OUD development, which could aid in discovery of new therapeutic strategies for susceptible populations. This dissertation investigated the impacts of two such risk factors which modulate opioid-induced reward and behavioral effects: adolescent stress and the adulteration of illicit opioids by xylazine. In Chapter 2, we examined the effects of acute adolescent stress on oxycodone self-administration in rats, and the potential involvement of the locus coeruleus in these …

Foveate, Dahlia Aggarwal

Masters Theses

This thesis investigates how textiles can unsettle visual assumptions, encouraging a perceptual shift. Through weaving, upholstery, and spatial installation, the work stages a tension between what a surface appears to be and how it is encountered by the body. Through woven pattern, tactile texture, and trompe l’oeil textile surfaces, perception is something negotiated rather than fixed: the eye anticipates one reality while the hand discovers another.

Drawing on a range of sensations gathered from observing landscape formations and textures, it translates enduring scale and material qualities into an interior landscape of woven surfaces and textile-based furniture. Rather than serving as …

Movement-Stabilized Three-Dimensional Optical Recordings Of Membrane Potential Changes And Calcium Dynamics In Hippocampal Ca1 Dendrites, Kevin C Gonzalez, Satoshi Terada, Asako Noguchi, George N Zakka, Cliodhna O'Toole, Giuliana Bilbao, Luke Reynolds, Anna Jász, Borbála Kertész, Zoltán Szadai, Alissa Shen, François St-Pierre, Franck Polleux, Attila Losonczy, Balázs Rózsa

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

Local dendritic computations are thought to critically influence neuronal signaling and plasticity yet remain largely unexplored in vivo due to challenges in stably imaging small structures at ultrafast timescales. We developed a 3D real-time motion correction platform for movement-stabilized, ultrafast two-photon voltage imaging. By co-labeling CA1 pyramidal neurons with voltage and calcium indicators, we simultaneously measured somato-dendritic and electro-calcium coupling at multiple dendritic sites. We characterized isolated dendritic spikes and distance-dependent backpropagation of naturally occurring and photostimulation-evoked bursts and single spikes. We found that bursts backpropagated more reliably than single spikes, validated that somato-dendritic coupling decreases with distance from soma, …

Empowering Women: Understanding Neurological Changes In The Aging Brain, Joy Mckenzie

InnovateHER Meeting 2026

Women tend to have more neurological changes than men as they age starting in their mid-30s (Mosconi, 2024). While aging is a natural process, the neurological changes can impact a woman’s personal and professional quality of life (Faubion et al., 2023; Gravini, 2023). For years, women’s neurological symptoms have been ignored by being told that their experiences are normal and just a part of life (Haver, 2025). That narrative is starting to shift with the increased awareness of changes specific to women. There are resources to assess cognitive changes such as memory, processing speed, and word finding and strategies to …

Deep-Learning Endomicroscope With Large Field-Of-View And Depth-Of-Field For Real-Time In Vivo Imaging Of Epithelial Cancer Hallmarks, Huayu Hou, Jimin Wu, Jinyun Liu, Vivek Boominathan, Argaja Shende, Karthik Goli, Jennifer Carns, Richard A Schwarz, Ann M Gillenwater, Preetha Ramalingam, Mila P Salcedo, Kathleen M Schmeler, Tomasz S Tkaczyk, Jacob T Robinson, Ashok Veeraraghavan, Rebecca R Richards-Kortum

Faculty, Staff and Students Publications

In vivo microscopy (IVM) has shown great promise to improve early detection of epithelial precancer, but it suffers from fundamental trade-offs that limit the resolution, field-of-view (FOV) and depth-of-field (DOF). Here, we present PrecisionView, a compact, deep learning-enabled endomicroscope that breaks these constraints and achieves 20 mm2 FOV and 500 µm DOF with 4 µm resolution, representing approximately 5× increase in FOV and 8× larger DOF compared to conventional IVM with similar resolution. PrecisionView integrates a deep learning-optimized phase mask and real-time reconstruction, enabling rapid in vivo assessment of two key hallmarks of cancer: epithelial cell nuclear morphology and subsurface …

Rhythms Of Hippocampal Function And Memory After Moderate Prenatal Alcohol Exposure, Lilliana May Sanchez

Psychology ETDs

Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders involve morphologic and neurobiological abnormalities in offspring subjected to prenatal alcohol exposure. Although not as well studied as high exposure, moderate prenatal alcohol exposure represents the most common and undetected form in humans. While learning and memory deficits have been well characterized at the behavioral level in humans with Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorders and in animal models of moderate prenatal alcohol exposure, few studies have determined the circuit or systems level mechanisms of the behavioral deficits. A complete understanding of the neural bases of memory deficits after moderate prenatal alcohol exposure is needed to ultimately identify …

Brain-Based Mechanisms Of Behavioral Impairment In Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (Fasd): The Neuroimaging Biomarkers Of Inhibitory Control, Zinia Pervin

Biomedical Engineering ETDs

The developing brain is highly susceptible to alcohol-induced toxicity, often resulting in long-term deficits in executive function and behavioral regulation. Inhibitory control impairments are among the most prominent deficits observed in Fetal Alcohol Spectrum Disorder (FASD). This study investigated the neural mechanisms of inhibitory dysfunction using a multimodal MEG–DTI approach in 67 children aged 6–8 years (34 with FASD, 33 controls) who performed a Go/No-Go task. Source-level MEG analyses revealed reduced stimulus-locked cortical activation in the anterior cingulate cortex and significant group-by-hemisphere interactions in the superior parietal cortex and cuneus. Time–frequency analyses showed diminished response-locked beta power in the sensory-motor …

Birth Control Use Alters Memory For A Stressful Experience, Julia N. Gross, Kristie Payment, Boyd R. Rorabaugh, Phillip R. Zoladz

Aurora

Hormonal birth control methods are widely used; however, some users suffer considerable side effects. Previous research suggests oral contraceptive users exhibit a blunted cortisol response to psychosocial stressors and alterations in emotional memory, including differential recall of emotional images and details of emotional stories. However, no studies have examined how birth control influences memory for a stressful experience.

The present study analyzes data previously collected from female undergraduate students. In this study, participants reported contraceptive use, then underwent a modified version of the Trier Social Stress Test (TSST) or the friendly-TSST (f-TSST). The TSST required participants to deliver a ten-minute, …

Exploring The Biological Basis For Exercise Neuroprotection In Parkinson’S Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study Of Exercise And Physical Activity On Inflammatory Cytokines And Neurotrophins, Leah Isabelle P. Alegre, Jacob M. Brewer, Adeline Florschutz, Kate E. Hamiltonthompson

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

Regular exercise and physical therapy are known to increase production of neurotrophins, including brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and anti-inflammatory cytokines. These changes combine to theoretically protect and slow the progressive loss of neurons in Parkinson’s disease (PD). The purpose of this study was to examine the effect of exercise and physical activity on various anti-inflammatory and pro-inflammatory cytokines and neurotrophins in people with PD (PwP). This was a cross-sectional design involving PwP (n=37), aged 43-85 years, who participated in two 30-minute bouts of exercise (with brief rest breaks during and pre/post blood draws) separated by a week. Measures collected prior …

Effectiveness Of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy On The Quality Of Life Of Adults With Dementia: A Secondary Analysis, Evelyn Airam

UNLV Theses, Dissertations, Professional Papers, and Capstones

This secondary analysis study evaluated the effectiveness of Cognitive Stimulation Therapy (CST) on quality of life (QoL), depressive symptoms, and cognitive function in 108 community-dwelling older adults with cognitive impairments, including dementia. Outcomes involved Quality of Life (QoL) measured by the Quality of Life in Alzheimer’s Disease (QoL-AD), symptoms of depression by the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD), and cognitive function using the Saint Louis University Mental Status (SLUMS). After the CST, significant improvements were observed in QoL (p = .004), depressive symptoms (p = .002), and cognitive function (p < .001), with small effect sizes. Additionally, a significant interaction between sex and dementia diagnosis status was found in predicting cognitive changes, suggesting that the relationship between dementia diagnosis and cognitive improvement differs by sex. No between-group differences were found for QoL or depression. Findings support CST as a multidimensional, non-pharmacological intervention that improves cognitive, psychological, and social outcomes. Although effects were small, consistent improvements are clinically meaningful given the progressive nature of dementia. This study extends existing literature by demonstrating CST’s effectiveness in a community-based setting and reinforces its alignment with occupational therapy’s emphasis on participation and holistic care. Results highlight the need for early intervention and expanded access to CST programs to enhance quality of life in this population.

The Making Of An Extremist: How Do We Become Someone Else’S Nightmare?, María Paula Morales

The Confluence

This article explores how ordinary people can be pulled into extremist movements and what psychological forces drive that process. It looks at three perspectives: social identity theory, which explains how group belonging shapes behavior, identity development, which shows how people searching for meaning may find it in extremist causes; and social neuroscience, which connects radicalization to brain activity linked to fear, loyalty, and moral judgement. Together, these approaches show that radicalization is not simply about ideology but about identity, emotion, and belonging. By understanding these dynamics, we can find better ways to prevent extremism and promote healthier, more inclusive communities.

Evaluating Headache Treatment Efficacy Across Rural And Urban Emergency Departments, Logan Stacey, Alan Sazama, Benjamin Aaker

Scholarship Pathways Program

Evaluating Headache Treatment Efficacy Across Rural and Urban Emergency Departments

Logan Stacey, MD | Alan Sazama, MD, Benjamin Aaker, MD

Introduction: Headaches are a common chief complaint in emergency departments (EDs), with rural patients facing unique challenges such as geographic isolation and limited access to care. This study aims to compare treatment efficacy for this top five ED chief complaints between rural and urban EDs.

Methods: Patients treated for headaches from 2020-2023 were identified using diagnosis codes and electronic health records. Treatment plans and patient demographics were abstracted from identified charts. EDs were categorized as rural (populations under 50,000) or …