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  ## Breadcrumb

- [Home](/)
- [Living with Parkinson's](/living-with-parkinsons)
- [My PD Story](/living-with-parkinsons/stories)
 
  

 

  # My PD Story

 

   ![Headshot of Daniel Silverman](/sites/default/files/styles/470x550/public/images/daniel_silverman.jpg?h=c9aea1bc&itok=_0SHpvf-)  

 Researchers 

##  Daniel Silverman, PhD 

 

  ***2021 Postdoctoral Fellowship***

### Solving Sleep Problems Related to Parkinson’s

Daniel Silverman, PhD, of the University of California, Berkeley, received a Parkinson’s Foundation James R. "Jim Bob" Moffett, Sr. [Postdoctoral Fellowship](/advancing-research/for-researchers/fellowships-early-career-awards "Fellowships & Early Career Awards") grant to study the mechanisms that contribute to [sleep disturbances](/understanding-parkinsons/non-movement-symptoms/sleep-disorders "Sleep Disorders") in Parkinson’s disease (PD). This could lead to innovative treatments or preventative measures to improve this common side effect of PD.

Sleep problems sometimes act as an [early warning sign](/understanding-parkinsons/10-early-signs "10 Early Signs") of PD before [movement deficits](/understanding-parkinsons/movement-symptoms "Movement Symptoms") set in and may severely impair quality of life.

Sleep can also be negatively impacted by [medications](/living-with-parkinsons/treatment/prescription-medications "Prescription Medications") that treat other Parkinson’s symptoms, which affect levels of brain chemicals called dopamine and norepinephrine. Brain nerve cells (or neurons) that release these chemicals are also involved in regulating sleep and are among the first neurons to deteriorate in Parkinson’s. The relationship between sleep problems and nerve cell degeneration is not well understood.

Dr. Silverman, who developed novel approaches for revealing the mechanism of retinal degeneration and night blindness from a rhodopsin (light-sensitive receptor protein) mutation in graduate school, was drawn to Parkinson’s research based on the work of Berkeley neuroscientist Yang Dan, PhD.

“After seeing Dr. Dan’s research on sleep, I became curious — often thinking about sleep experiments lying awake at night,” said Dr. Silverman. “It was striking to learn that little is known about the mechanisms that control the brain’s balance between wakefulness and sleep, especially because disruption is a common symptom of Parkinson’s disease.”

Dr. Silverman will focus on the role of molecules called reactive oxygen species (ROS) in PD sleep problems. Emerging evidence has shown that reactive oxygen species build up when neurons release dopamine and norepinephrine. Research also shows these neurons are inhibited by high levels of ROS.

Using a mouse model, Dr. Silverman will try to determine if ROS levels grow during long periods of being awake and whether [quality sleep](/library/books/sleep "Sleep: A Mind Guide to Parkinson's Disease") may help cells to recover from the stress caused by ROS. “With a better understanding of the molecular dysregulation that underlies sleep disturbances in Parkinson’s, a targeted treatment could one day aim to restore healthy sleep,” said Dr. Silverman.

**Meet more Parkinson’s researchers! Explore our** [**My PD Stories featuring PD researchers**](https://www.parkinson.org/living-with-parkinsons/stories?_page=1&keywords=&_limit=9&story=17).

  ##  Related Materials 

   Fact Sheets 

###  [ Getting Involved in Research ](/library/fact-sheets/research) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/research) 

 Fact Sheets 

###  [ Genetics ](/library/fact-sheets/genetics) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/fact-sheets/genetics) 

 Books 

###  [ Women and Parkinson's Research and Care Agenda ](/library/books/women-research-care-agenda) 

 

 [Read Now](/library/books/women-research-care-agenda) 

 

  ##  More Stories 

 from the Parkinson's community

   ![Wilma van de Berg](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/Wilma%20Van%20Berg%20Headshot.png?h=c9aea1bc&itok=h2_ydEqq)  

 Researchers 

###  [ Wilma van de Berg ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/wilma-van-de-berg) 

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 ![Heba Deraz, MD, PhD Headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/Heba%20Deraz%2C%20MD%2C%20PhD.png?h=c9aea1bc&itok=1EZm7iUx)  

 Researchers 

###  [ Heba Deraz, MD, PhD ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/heba-deraz) 

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 ![Patrick Lewis, PhD headshot](/sites/default/files/styles/340x400/public/images/Patrick%20Lewis%2C%20PhD.png?h=c9aea1bc&itok=gfrtN2FK)  

 Researchers 

###  [ Patrick Lewis, PhD ](/living-with-parkinsons/stories/patrick-lewis) 

  READ NOW  

 

 

 [VIEW ALL STORIES](/living-with-parkinsons/stories) 

  

 

 ###  Join the PD GENEration Today 

 PD GENEration is an initiative that offers genetic testing and genetic counseling at no cost for people with Parkinson’s disease.

 [ENROLL NOW](/advancing-research/our-research/pdgeneration) 

 

 

 

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