NEURODEGENERATIVE DISEASES 

Carleton University

Are there any similarities between stress related illnesses like depression and neurodegenerative diseases like Parkinson's? Dr. Shawn Hayley, a researcher at Carleton University, believes there are and hopes that his research will contribute to the development of treatment strategies for both.

Dr. Hayley, who holds a Canada Research Chair in Behavioural Neuroscience, is focusing on the communication between the brain and the immune system and how imbalances can cause psychiatric and neurological conditions.

"My interest, specifically, is with cytokines, which are the immune system's messengers," explains Dr. Hayley. "I'm exploring how cytokines increase when an individual is exposed to two different types of stress, the psychological stress associated with depression and environmental toxins linked to Parkinson's."

Researchers know that in the case of depression, the imbalance of cytokines causes changes in mood, sleep and appetite. When it comes to Parkinson's, cytokines accumulate in the brain and cause damage to certain brain cells, which, in turn, cause things like loss of motor control. How does it all work and what role does genetic predisposition play? That's what Dr. Hayley is investigating.

Dr. Hayley's work has the potential to impact the lives of thousands of Ontarians who are affected either directly or indirectly by these diseases.

Researcher: Dr. Shawn Hayley