Impaired reward sensitivity in Parkinson's depression is unresponsive to dopamine treatment

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Depression in Parkinson's disease (PD) significantly impacts disability and quality of life, often occurring as an early symptom.
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Motivational symptoms like apathy and anhedonia are prevalent in PD depression, linked to dopaminergic loss.
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Effort-based decision making is disrupted in PD depression, characterized by lower reward sensitivity compared to non-depressed patients.
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Dopamine treatment improves reward sensitivity in non-depressed PD patients but fails to do so in those with depression.
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The study suggests that non-dopaminergic therapies may be necessary to address reward sensitivity deficits in PD depression.

Brain

by Harry Costello, Yumeya Yamamori, Karel Kieslich, Mackenzie Murphy, Kamilla Bobyreva, Anette-Eleonore Schrag, Robert Howard, Jonathan P Roiser
March 19, 2025

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