Effects of Exenatide on Motor Function and the Brain

Participants will receive baseline testing to confirm a diagnosis of Parkinson's Disease and to determine eligibility in the research study. All of the participants in this study will receive the study drug (Exenatide). The study drug will be provided at the end of the first visit, and participants will be administered the drug once per week for the duration of the study (1 year).

During the research study the following test may occur: (1) questionnaires about quality of life and depression; (2) tests to measure strength and motor function; (3) tests to measure cognition; (4) orientation session to learn a precision gripping task; (5) functional MRI scan of the brain; (6) structural MRI scan of the brain.

Inclusion criteria

• patients clinically diagnosed with Parkinson's disease (PD) through use of the UK PD brain bank diagnostic criteria
• early stage PD patients within 5 years of diagnosis who have never taken Exenatide for any reason
• PD patients with a Hoehn and Yahr stage less than or equal to 2 when on medication
• patients able and willing to sign informed consent.

Exclusion criteria

• individuals who have any type of implanted electrical device (such as a cardiac pacemaker or a neurostimulator)
• individuals with a certain type of metallic clip in the body (i.e., an aneurysm clip in the brain)
• claustrophobia
• women who are or might be pregnant and nursing mothers. Pregnancy tests will be carried out for each female subject prior to the MRI scan.
• psychiatric disorders or dementia
• other neurologic and orthopedic problems that impair hand movements and walking
• individuals actively participating in another trial of a device, drug or surgical treatment for Parkinson's disease
• individuals who have a history metalworking involving cutting processes such as grinding, filing, shaving, and threading, will need radiological clearance to participate in this study. Specifically, individuals who report a history of metalworking will be referred to Radiology at Shands University of Florida(UF) for an orbitofrontal x-ray.
• individuals who have sustained an eye injury involving metal will also be referred to Radiology at Shands UF for an orbitofrontal x-ray.
• prior stroke or brain tumor
• cognitive impairment as assessed by a Montreal Cognitive Assessment score < 23
• individuals unwilling to comply with the study procedures
• history of gallstones, digestion problems (such as gastroparesis), severe gastrointestinal disease, history of pancreatitis, a thyroid tumor or cancer, pancreas tumor, or kidney problems
• severely impaired renal function with creatinine clearance less than 30 ml/min
• hyperlipidemia defined as more than two times the upper limit of normal
• body mass index less than 18.5
• previous exposure to Exenatide
• diabetes