2022 Annual Report

Department of Neurodegenerative Science
The Institute’s Department of Neurodegenerative
Science is home to experts in Parkinson’s disease
and other progressive neurological disorders, such
as Alzheimer’s and related dementias, amyotrophic
lateral sclerosis (ALS) and depression. Their goal
is to improve quality of life for people with these
diseases by:
Impeding disease progression: VAI scientists are
working to better understand the complex causes of
Parkinson’s in order to develop new treatments that
slow or stop the disease’s progression or even prevent
it altogether — something no current treatment can do.
Designing more definitive diagnostic methods:
There are currently no definitive diagnostic tests for
Parkinson’s, which complicates treatment decisions
and puts an undue burden on patients. Institute
scientists are searching for biological indicators called
biomarkers, which can be assessed objectively and
used to better diagnose the disease.
Investigating the underpinnings of Alzheimer’s
and other disorders: VAI’s research extends
beyond Parkinson’s into diseases like Alzheimer’s,
frontotemporal dementia, ALS, depression and
suicidality.
2022 HIGHLIGHTS
Blood markers can predict depression in pregnancy
Signs of inflammation in the blood reliably predict and identify severe depression in pregnancy, reported a
study led by Van Andel Institute’s Dr. Lena Brundin and Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services’ Dr. Eric
Achtyes. The team’s analysis established a set of 15 biological markers found in the blood that can predict
whether pregnant women will experience significant depressive symptoms with more than 80% accuracy.
The findings could give physicians a much-needed tool to identify women who may be at risk for depression
and better tailor their care throughout pregnancy. 1
Neuroscientist Dr. Qiang Zhu joins VAI
In January 2022, neuroscientist Dr. Qiang Zhu joined VAI as an assistant professor. Zhu is an expert in two
devastating neurodegenerative diseases that affect movement and cognitive function: amyotrophic lateral
sclerosis (ALS) and frontotemporal dementia (FTD). His research bridges the fields of genetics, epigenetics,
cell biology and behavioral neuroscience — a combination that provides a critical window into the
interconnected factors that may contribute to ALS and FTD. Zhu is hopeful that his work, which focuses on
repeat expansions in the C9orf72 gene, will uncover new targets for treatment and new biomarkers that will
aid scientists and physicians in studying and tracking disease progression.
Movement disorders pioneer Dr. Anthony E. Lang honored with Jay Van Andel Award
VAI awarded renowned movement disorders pioneer Dr. Anthony E. Lang with its 2022 Jay Van Andel Award
for Outstanding Achievement in Parkinson’s Disease Research. The award was presented during Grand
Challenges in Parkinson’s Disease, VAI’s flagship annual Parkinson’s disease symposium, in September.
Lang’s groundbreaking, multifaceted research seeks to understand how movement disorders such as
Parkinson’s begin, how they spread in the brain, and how these insights may be translated into treatments
that slow or stop disease progression — a feat not possible with existing therapeutic strategies. The award
was established in 2012 in memory of VAI Founder Jay Van Andel, who battled Parkinson’s disease for a decade
before his death in 2004. The annual award is given to scientists who have made outstanding contributions to
Parkinson’s disease research and who have positively impacted human health.
Funding Acknowledgement
1
Research reported in this publication was supported by Van Andel Institute, Pine Rest Christian Mental Health Services and the National Institute of Mental Health of the
National Institutes of Health under award no. R01MH104622 (Brundin). The clinical trial identifier is NCT02566980. The content is solely the responsibility of the authors and
does not necessarily represent the official views of the granting organizations.
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