Gut-brain clues in Parkinson’s disease: supplement to a large registry
Official title: A Consortium for Gut-Brain Communication in Parkinson's Disease- Supplement
Funded at Columbia University Health Sciences · NIH-11612995 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A plant-wide supplement to an NIH program will enroll people with Parkinson’s, with and without GI symptoms, plus healthy controls, to study how gut function, brain signals, and sleep rhythms relate to Parkinson’s symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Columbia University Health Sciences NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (New York, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $171,464 |
| NIH project number | 3U01DK140933-03S1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11612995 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease across the spectrum, with or without GI symptoms, plus age- and sex-matched healthy controls.
✕Less likely to help
Participants with PD or GI symptoms may not experience direct personal benefit during the study duration.
What this research studies
This project adds patients to a national registry and collects deep Parkinson’s and gastrointestinal data. It includes brain-gut imaging to see how meals affect gut-brain communication and autonomic changes in Parkinson’s. It also examines sleep and circadian patterns in real life and in clinical settings to understand their link to GI motility and PD symptoms. The team will analyze how gastric function relates to autonomic metrics and overall Parkinson’s burden across the cohort.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: Findings could clarify how gut and sleep factors influence Parkinson’s symptoms, potentially guiding new approaches to management.
How similar studies have gone: Prior work in gut-brain interactions in PD has shown relevant links; this supplement expands to deeper phenotyping and imaging.
Where this research is happening
-
Columbia University Health Sciences
New York, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kuo, Braden — Columbia University Health Sciences
- Study coordinator: Kuo, Braden
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease: how the gut and environment shape symptoms
A Mayo Clinic team is studying how gut problems, environmental factors, and genetics together influence Parkinson’s disease and its GI symptoms to find biomarkers and better understanding of the disease.
-
Gut-brain communication in Parkinson’s disease for better symptoms and daily life
This project enrolls people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls to build a big registry and study how gut function, brain signals, sleep, and circadian rhythms relate to PD symptoms.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
-
Understanding posture and movement in Parkinson’s patients to reduce falls
A study using wearable sensors to track real-world balance and movement in people with Parkinson’s disease to help prevent falls.
-
Gulf War chemical exposures and early signs of Parkinson's disease
This project looks at whether deployment-related chemical exposures are linked to early Parkinson's signs in Gulf War veterans.
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.