COM STUDENT, JESSICA REHRIG, COM '20, HAS RECENT RESEARCH PUBLISHED IN AGING MEDICINE
Tell me a little more about what you discovered in your research.
Current research hypothesizes Parkinson's Disease (PD) as a compilation of complex interactions between genetic and environmental factors. PD was historically considered sporadic in nature, without genetic origin. In the past decade, however, genetic studies performed in various geographical regions worldwide have strengthened the hypothesis that PD has a substantial genetic component.
We hypothesized that dopaminergic neuronal degeneration seen in PD could result from a single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in NMDAR. The NMDA receptor is involved in synaptic plasticity and learning, and its excessive activation results in excitotoxic neuronal damage, which is hypothesized to be a mechanism underlying several neurologic and neurodegenerative disorders.
Individual studies have established interaction between rs4998386 polymorphisms of the GRIN2A gene, which codes for a subunit of NMDAR, on PD risk. Our meta-analysis found that the rs4998386 polymorphism of the GRIN2A gene is not associated with risk of PD in either Europeans or White Americans.
What was your favorite part of the research?
Connecting with passionate researchers in the field was my favorite part of this project. This study was my first working with Dr. Nepal, but will not be the last. We are already working on a number of other hypotheses we have in the field of Neurology. It is exciting to know that I can contribute to furthering research in my field of interest.
How did it feel to have it published? Have you been published before?
This was not my first research paper, but it was my first publication. It was extremely exciting to know that I am contributing to a community that I have always admired! Medical training is a long road, but moments like this give you the energy to keep working hard.
How do you see your research informing your own clinical work as a future provider?
I am hoping to pursue a research-based residency in Neurology. This field is one with many unknowns.
As a future provider, I would like to be able to tell patients "we may not have the answers yet, but YOU have inspired many of us- including me- to tackle these questions".
Read the research article.
UNE COM student, Jessica Rehrig, COM '20, recently published an article in Aging Medicine. "Glutamate ionotropic receptor NMDA type subunit 2A (GRIN2A) gene polymorphism (rs4998386) and Parkinson's disease susceptibility: A meta-analysis" looks to determine whether certain degeneration in Parkinson's disease might result from a particular gene.