Charles H. Adler, M.D., Ph.D.

The purpose of this study is twofold:

Specific Aim 1

• In biopsies of skin from living subjects with DLB, PD without dementia (PD), and PD with dementia (PDD), assess the relative diagnostic sensitivity and specificity of IHC and seeding assay measures of aSyn, relative to normal control subjects.

Specific Aim 2

• In second biopsies of skin from subjects with DLB, PD and PDD, assess whether IHC and seeding measures of aSyn progress, regress or remain stable over time, indicating whether these may be useful as measures of therapeutic agent target engagement and disease progression.

Determine 1) the magnitude of SMG and skin a-syn density change over time, 2) the

improvement in adequate tissue acquisition doing bilateral SMG biopsies, 3) any laterality differences between

SMG gland a-syn density, 4) correlate a-syn density and changes in density between SMG and skin biopsies

Specific Aim 1. Determine, with bilateral submandibular gland (SMG) biopsies in 30 clinically

diagnosed subjects with Parkinson’s disease (PD) and 20 clinically probable REM sleep behavior

disorder (RBD) subjects whether bilateral biopsies improve the rate of acquisition of adequate

glandular tissue, whether alpha-synuclein (a-syn) SMG pathology correlates with clinical severity

and/or disease duration, and whether there is a left-right difference in the density of a-syn pathology.

Specific Aim 2. Determine, with a second SMG biopsy in previously biopsied PD and RBD subjects,

whether a-syn pathology density increases, decreases, or remains the same after a 1.5-2 year time

interval and whether there is a correlation between a-syn SMG pathology and clinical and/or disease

progression.

Specific Aim 3. Determine whether a-syn pathology density in skin punch biopsies correlates

with clinical measures and increases, decreases, or remains the same after a 1.5-2 year time

interval, and whether the density and changes over time correlate with those found in SMG

biopsies.

The purpose of this study is to determine whether 18F-AV-133 PET scans can be used to differentiate subjects with Parkinson's Disease from other movement disorders.

The purpose of this study is to collect and analyze neuroimaging, genetic markers, and clinical presentations and progressions of chronic traumatic encephalopathy to develop methods of diagnosing the disease during life. 

The investigators will investigate golfers with visual evidence of an involuntary movement while putting before and after treatment with a low dose of propranolol.

The purpose of this study is to measure alpha-synuclein in peripheral body tissues and fluids in Parkinson's disease (PD). This may help in developing better treatments for PD patients in the future.

The purpose of this study is to perform biopsies of one of the glands that make saliva. The biopsied tissue will then be analyzed to see if it has changes that occur in Parkinson's disease. This study will determine whether it is possible to do a second biopsy a few years after a previous biopsy and determine whether there are changes in the biopsy that would allow for analysis of disease progression.