Gut-brain connection in Parkinson’s disease
Official title: Gut-brain axis in Parkinson's Disease
Funded at Howard University · NIH-11467779 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A study in Parkinson’s disease explores how the gut may influence brain health and disease progression, using animal models to understand pathways that link the gut to brain symptoms.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Howard University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Washington, United States) |
| Project start | July 1, 2020 |
| Project end | June 30, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $495,952 |
| NIH project number | 7R01DK124098-06 |
| Project ID | NIH-11467779 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Individuals with Parkinson’s disease or those at risk could potentially benefit from future therapies emerging from this research.
✕Less likely to help
People without Parkinson’s disease or risk factors may not directly benefit from this basic science work.
What this research studies
This project looks at how Parkinson’s disease might start in the gut and travel to the brain via the vagus nerve. Researchers have identified a connection between the gut and brain regions involved in movement and are testing how gut signals affect brain function. They’ve created a rodent model that mimics environmental risks and Parkinson’s features, including gut changes and motor symptoms, to study cause-and-effect and potential interventions. The goal is to uncover mechanisms that could lead to new strategies for early detection and treatment that target the gut-brain axis.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could pave the way for new approaches to prevent or slow Parkinson’s progression by targeting the GI tract and gut-brain signaling.
How similar studies have gone: Previous work supports a gut-brain link in Parkinson’s, and this study expands with a novel environmental model and detailed gut-brain pathway analysis.
Where this research is happening
-
Howard University
Washington, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Subramanian, Thyagarajan — Howard University
- Study coordinator: Subramanian, Thyagarajan
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Gut-brain clues in Parkinson’s disease: supplement to a large registry
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.
-
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.
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.