Salvatore Lab 
est. 2006
​Fort Worth, Texas USA
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Focused on identifying and targeting brain proteins that can improve motor function, and how these brain proteins respond to non-invasive interventions like exercise, in translation-focused studies of rodent aging and Parkinson's disease models
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We aim to understand the molecular basis for locomotor impairment in aging and Parkinson's disease.  Our immediate and long-term goals are to discover molecular, pharmacological, and non-invasive (exercise, calorie restriction) approaches that can target proteins associated with motor impairment, which can reduce or eliminate locomotor impairment.



Latest News:
September 23, 2025
NEW PREPRINT in bioRxiv
We are pleased to announce our latest publication, a preprint, that features our collaborative work with Dr. Chris Bishop at Binghamton University. "Preservation of dopamine neurotransmission during nigrostriatal neuron loss in rat Parkinson’s model: evidence for increased dopamine signaling in substantia nigra"   https://www.biorxiv.org/content/10.1101/2025.09.12.675909v1
This work gives new insights into the adaptive processes at work in the brain to maintain motor function despite loss of the nigrostriatal dopamine neurons.  This study was done in a well-established rat model of Parkinson's disease.  Here, we found that the lesion of the nigrostriatal pathway caused an increase in dopamine levels in the substantia nigra, but not striatum (where the vast majority of research has previously focused) when lesion severity reached the magnitude observed at Parkinson's diagnosis.   This work has broad implications for how the brain adapts to the pathology of Parkinson's and may illuminate the strategic approaches needed to therapeutically target the nigrostriatal pathway to maintain motor function. 

May 2, 2025
Featuring Punching Out Parkinson's!
Check out the dance moves of PoP's member, Tina Hargrove, leading her dance class!
https://www.facebook.com/reel/1839310666866664
Always keep moving...music always does the trick!

April 24, 2025
Interview on The TogetherForSharon Podcast
I was honored to interview with Dr. George Ackerman, who leads a Parkinson's disease outreach center, Together for Sharon.  He started this after his mother, Sharon, passed away after her battle with PD.  Here, I speak about my entry into the field, the areas of research we cover, and the motivators for why I do this research.  It was a fantastic experience and this organization is truly a force in the battle against Parkinson's.
https://open.spotify.com/episode/6eGxwlJ9alCQgz9tNwXDAW?si=4U3UJ4f9SiKnf-a_Xa98Ew&nd=1&dlsi=6025d5affa6947ba

March 27, 2025
We're delighted to announce the latest publication.  In collaboration with lead investigators, Drs. Anthony Ryals and Kirby Doshier, the study entitled "Eye Movements During the Iowa Gambling Task in Parkinson's Disease: A Brief Report" will soon be published in Frontiers in Psychology, in the special issue "Translational research advancements utilizing the Iowa Gambling Task in preclinical and clinical studies: 30 years of the IGT".  Our study has shown that in addition to evidence that Parkinson's affected executive and motor function, we found that eye blink rate was drastically reduced in early-stage patients.