Gut-immune system links in Lewy Body Disease
Official title: Role of altered gut immune response in Lewy Body Disease
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11372296 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers are studying how the gut and immune system may influence Lewy body diseases like Parkinson’s and dementia with Lewy bodies, aiming to uncover new clues that could lead to better diagnosis and treatment in the future.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 1, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $644,470 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK140939-03 |
| Project ID | NIH-11372296 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Adults with Lewy body diseases, including Parkinson’s disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or prodromal conditions such as isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Some participants may not experience direct clinical benefits, as the study focuses on understanding disease mechanisms rather than providing treatment.
What this research studies
This project at Stanford will look at how the gut microbiome and immune cells in the gut interact with brain-related disease processes seen in Lewy body diseases. By combining new technologies, the team will characterize immune responses, gut bacteria, and physiologic measures in people with Parkinson’s disease and related conditions, including those with prodromal signs. The work will focus on how gut-associated macrophages and other immune components relate to α-synuclein pathology and disease signatures, with a plan to connect peripheral findings to brain changes. Participants may undergo assessments that reflect daily living activities and gut-immune biomarkers to better understand disease pathways and potential targets for intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could inform earlier diagnosis and new therapeutic approaches that target gut-immune interactions in Lewy body diseases.
How similar studies have gone: Previous studies have suggested a link between gut immune responses and neurodegenerative changes, but comprehensive human data are still limited, making this study relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Poston, Kathleen Lombard — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Poston, Kathleen Lombard
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut-immune changes in Lewy Body Diseases and early signs
A study at Stanford will explore how the gut and its immune system may be linked to Lewy Body diseases like Parkinson’s and related conditions, with findings that could point to new ways to understand and someday treat these illnesses.
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Amygdala’s role in Lewy body disease and Alzheimer’s disease
A clinician-science training grant to help Dr. D. Luke Fischer study how the amygdala may drive the spread of disease in people with Lewy body disease and Alzheimer’s disease.
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Gut immune changes in Lewy body disorders
This project looks at whether changes in gut immune signals and gut bacteria are linked to Parkinson's disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, and people with early signs like REM sleep behavior disorder.
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Automated Neurodegeneration Index for Lewy Body Disease in At-Risk Groups
A new machine‑learning tool analyzes routine brain scans to identify early neurodegeneration in people at risk for Parkinson’s disease or dementia with Lewy bodies.
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Identifying molecules that interact with alpha-synuclein in Alzheimer's disease–related dementias
A study at Mayo Clinic Jacksonville will map which proteins interact with alpha-synuclein in brain tissue and human-derived cells to understand its role in dementia like Lewy body disease and Alzheimer’s-related dementias.
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Restoring the brain's cleanup cells to help in Lewy body disease
This project looks at whether removing and then regrowing the brain's immune cells can help clear harmful protein clumps that damage people with Lewy body disease.
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.