Date Thesis Awarded

5-2024

Access Type

Honors Thesis -- Open Access

Degree Name

Bachelors of Science (BS)

Department

Chemistry

Advisor

Randolph Coleman

Committee Members

Lisa Landino

Douglas Young

Denise Damon Wade

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor symptoms such as tremors, bradykinesia, rigidity, and postural instability. Recent research suggests an avenue for potential neuroprotection through dietary intervention, specifically the adoption of a plant-based diet. A plant-based diet predominantly comprises foods derived from plants, emphasizing fruits, vegetables, grains, legumes, and nuts while minimizing or excluding animal products. This thesis aims to explore the biochemical pathways implicated in PD progression and the potential impact of dietary choices on these pathways. The investigation focuses on several key pathways: alpha-synuclein aggregation, the blood-brain barrier crossing of levodopa, oxidative stress, ferroptosis, and methylmercury-induced dysbiosis. These pathways were modeled via CellDesigner 4.4 and their kinetics were analyzed using COPASI. Analysis indicates that this dietary approach may possess neuroprotective effects, potentially mitigating PD progression. Conversely, findings suggest that the traditional American animal-based diet might heighten the risk of developing PD by exacerbating the aforementioned pathways associated with PD pathogenesis.

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