Can We Halt Parkinson’s Progression? Targeted Brain Therapies Explained

Can We Halt Parkinson’s Progression? Targeted Brain Therapies Explained

From Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science by Karen Toffler Charitable Trust

April 15, 2026 · 59 min · Season 3 · Episode 7

About this episode

In this episode, Dr. Zachary Sorrentino discusses the progression of Parkinson's disease and targeted brain therapies.

Parkinson’s disease begins decades before symptoms appear — and by the time tremors start, brain changes have already been unfolding for years. In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal speaks with Dr. Zachary Sorrentino, neurosurgeon, physician-scientist, and 2025 Toffler Scholar at the University of Florida. Dr. Sorrentino explains how misfolded proteins like alpha-synuclein spread through the brain, how deep brain stimulation helps restore movement, and why preve...

People in this episode

Host: Deborah Westphal

Guest: Dr. Zachary Sorrentino

Topics covered

  • Parkinson's disease
  • brain therapies
  • deep brain stimulation
  • neuroscience
  • protein misfolding

Keywords

  • Parkinson's disease
  • deep brain stimulation
  • alpha-synuclein
  • neurosurgery
  • brain therapies

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: University of Florida

Products: alpha-synuclein

More episodes of Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Research Renaissance: Exploring the Future of Brain Science podcast page.