Professor Denis Soulet at Université Laval is leading a groundbreaking investigation into whether a medication currently used to treat postpartum depression could also protect the brain in Parkinson’s.

Funding for this project has been generously provided by an anonymous donor.

A new approach to slowing Parkinson’s

There is currently no treatment that can prevent, stop, or delay Parkinson’s, only medications that manage its symptoms. Professor Soulet’s research is exploring whether zuranolone, a drug already approved to treat depression, can:

  • Prevent the loss of dopamine-producing brain cells.
  • Rescue dopamine neurons that have already been damaged.

This builds on previous research showing that Parkinson’s patients treated with zuranolone experienced a reduction in tremor.

The research plan

In a mouse model of Parkinson’s, Professor Soulet will:

  • Test zuranolone’s ability to protect against dopamine cell loss.
  • Investigate the mechanisms involved in that protection.
  • Assess whether the drug can restore function in affected neurons.

If zuranolone demonstrates neuroprotective properties, its existing safety data from prior human trials for depression could help fast-track it toward clinical use for Parkinson’s.

Why this matters

Unlike current treatments that only manage symptoms, zuranolone has the potential to slow or change the course of Parkinson’s. The fact that it’s already FDA-approved for another condition means it could move more quickly into Parkinson’s trials — offering hope for a treatment breakthrough to patients and families who urgently need it.