Parkinson’s disease begins decades before symptoms appear — and by the time tremors start, brain changes have already been unfolding for years.
In this episode of Research Renaissance, host Deborah Westphal speaks with Dr.

Zachary Sorrentino, neurosurgeon, physician-scientist, and 2025 Toffler Scholar at the University of Florida. Dr. Sorrentino explains how misfolded proteins like alpha-synuclein spread through the brain, how deep brain stimulation helps restore movement, and why preventing dementia in Parkinson’s patients may be the next major frontier.

Drawing from both the operating room and the research lab, Dr. Sorrentino shares how his team analyzes proteins directly from surgical tools used in living patients — offering unprecedented insight into disease progression.
This is a powerful conversation about aging, brain vulnerability, precision therapies, and the human side of neurosurgery.

🔑 Key Takeaways
Why age is the strongest risk factor for Parkinson’s disease
How misfolded alpha-synuclein spreads through the brain
What deep brain stimulation actually does
Why Parkinson’s symptoms begin decades before diagnosis
The connection between Parkinson’s and dementia
How targeted drug delivery through brain blood vessels may shape the future
The emotional realities of neurosurgery and patient care

⏱️ Episode Timestamps
00:00 – Introduction to Parkinson’s and Lewy body disorders
02:30 – The MD-PhD pathway and physician-scientist model
08:30 – What deep brain stimulation does
10:00 – The 20-year silent phase of Parkinson’s
12:00 – Studying proteins from surgical tools
16:00 – Why dementia is the greatest fear
24:00 – How misfolded proteins spread
27:00 – The role of aging in neurodegeneration
31:00 – Detecting pathological proteins in living patients
42:00 – Stroke breakthroughs in the last decade
48:00 – Targeted therapies and personalized brain medicine
54:00 – The human side of neurosurgery

👤 Guest
Dr. Zachary Sorrentino
Neurosurgeon and Physician-Scientist
University of Florida
2025 Toffler Scholar

🧠 Topics Covered

• Parkinson’s disease
• Alpha-synuclein and Lewy bodies
• Protein misfolding and neurodegeneration
• Deep brain stimulation (DBS)
• Targeted gene therapy delivery
• Stroke intervention advances
• Aging and brain health

💬 Join the Conversation
If this episode deepened your understanding of Parkinson’s disease:
Follow Research Renaissance
Share this episode with someone in neuroscience or medicine
Leave a review on Apple Podcasts or Spotify
Subscribe for more conversations shaping the future of human health

To learn more about the breakthroughs discussed in this episode and to support ongoing research, visit our website at tofflertrust.org.

Technical Podcast Support by Jon Keur at Wayfare Recording Co.