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Dr. Bradley McDaniels, assistant professor in the Department of Rehabilitation & Health Services, dedicates a lot of time to researching Parkinson’s Disease (PD). He understands that even though it is categorized as a movement disorder, PD exerts multifaceted impacts on individuals, extending beyond motor symptoms to affect emotional well-being through its non-movement features. And, while extensive literature outlines these impacts, there is little information on how to improve quality of life. To change that, he’s collaborating with an esteemed group of medical professionals and researchers from institutions such as UCLA, Johns Hopkins, Yale, and the University of California – San Francisco who are dedicated to identifying innovative solutions to the complex challenges posed by PD.

“One of our initial studies evaluated the relationship between meaning in life and apathy to assess the potential of an interventional target,” McDaniels said. “Apathy is present in up to 50% of people with PD, and there are limited effective treatment options available.”

In the study, they sampled 237 people with PD to evaluate the effect of meaning in life on apathy, and the results indicated a moderate-to-strong negative correlation and that 48% of the variance in apathy was explained by meaning in life. Based on this, they determined that meaning in life offers clinicians a novel intervention to fill the current treatment gap for people with PD.

“In the realm of chronic illnesses, the presence of meaning in life is correlated with numerous positive outcomes, including enhanced emotional well-being, heightened self-esteem, effective coping mechanisms, optimism and successful aging, while also mitigating cognitive decline, depression, anxiety, and substance misuse,” McDaniels said. “We posit that the implementation of a validated intervention aimed at fostering a sense of meaning in life – such as self-efficacy, resilience, social support, and psychological flexibility – holds promise in alleviating some of the most vexing aspects associated with PD.”

There’s a reason all of this means so much to him.

“My unwavering passion for PD research stems from a deeply personal place – my mother's diagnosis. Witnessing her journey, filled with the challenges and complexities of this condition, ignited within me a fervent desire to contribute meaningfully to the field,” he said. “Every tremor, every moment of frustration, and every hurdle she faces serve as a poignant reminder of the urgent need for advancements in treatment and care. My commitment is not only born out of love for my mother but also from a steadfast belief that through dedicated research, we can enhance the quality of life for all who are affected by PD. It is this profound connection that propels me forward each day, driving me to seek innovative solutions and tirelessly pursue avenues for improvement.”