Early alpha-synuclein changes in gut and brain that may signal Parkinson’s and Lewy body dementia
Changes in Synaptic Vesicle-Binding of Alpha-Synuclein as an Early Biomarker for Synucleinopathies
This work looks at whether changes in how the protein alpha-synuclein binds to nerve-cell membranes in the gut and brain can signal early Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia for older adults at risk.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11238987 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
If you join this research, doctors may collect small gut biopsy samples during routine colonoscopy and compare them with brain tissue or existing samples to look for early protein changes. Lab scientists will measure how alpha-synuclein sticks to synaptic vesicle membranes in enteric (gut) neurons and brain neurons. They will search for which area of the gastrointestinal tract shows the clearest early changes and compare those findings to known disease patterns. The goal is to find a gut-based marker that appears before clear symptoms develop.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal participants are older adults undergoing routine colonoscopy or people with early signs of Parkinsonian symptoms (for example, persistent constipation) or those at risk for Lewy body dementia and willing to provide biopsy samples.
Not a fit: People seeking immediate treatment for symptoms or those whose conditions are unrelated to alpha-synuclein pathology are unlikely to receive direct medical benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could enable earlier detection of Parkinson’s disease and Lewy body dementia using accessible gut tissue, allowing earlier intervention or enrollment in preventive trials.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have detected alpha-synuclein in gut tissue with mixed diagnostic accuracy, and focusing specifically on synaptic vesicle binding as an early marker is a newer, less-tested approach.
Where this research is happening
New York, United States
- Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ — New York, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Burre, Jacqueline — Weill Medical Coll of Cornell Univ
- Study coordinator: Burre, Jacqueline
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.