Published on: Jan 05, 2026
Scientists at Northwestern Medicine have found that targeting neuronal signaling involved in aberrant learning within the striatum may enhance the effectiveness of levodopa—the first-line treatment for Parkinson’s disease—while also reducing treatment-related side effects, according to a study published in Science Advances.
Led by D. James Surmeier, PhD, Nathan Smith Davis Professor and Chair of Neuroscience, the research suggests that this approach could help mitigate involuntary movements that often emerge after prolonged levodopa use in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease.
Levodopa, a symptomatic therapy, restores dopamine levels in the brain but also generates an artificial learning signal that is chemically driven rather than shaped by experience or movement needs. Over time, this abnormal signal promotes maladaptive learning in the brain, contributing to treatment-induced side effects. The researchers aimed to block this aberrant learning process to preserve therapeutic benefits while minimizing adverse outcomes.
Parkinson’s disease affects an estimated 8.5 million people worldwide and is marked by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, impairing movement control and habit formation. While medications are effective in early stages, their benefits decline over time, and side effects become more pronounced as the disease advances.
Many patients with late-stage Parkinson’s develop levodopa-induced dyskinesia (LID), characterized by involuntary movements. As dopamine-producing neurons are lost, the brain’s ability to regulate dopamine levels diminishes, leading to extreme fluctuations that are believed to drive dyskinesia.
To investigate this mechanism, Surmeier’s team used electrophysiological, pharmacological, molecular, and behavioral techniques to examine synaptic changes in striatal spiny projection neurons the primary neuronal population responsible for movement control—in mouse models of Parkinson’s disease treated with levodopa.
By interrupting maladaptive learning in the striatum, the study demonstrates a promising strategy to improve symptom control and minimize dyskinesia in patients with advanced Parkinson’s disease offering a potential path toward safer, more effective long-term therapies.
Back to News
Empowering Innovation Through Global Conferences and Events.
© 2025 SciInov. All Rights Reserved.