Gut Immunity and Lewy Body Disease
Official title: Role of altered gut immune response in Lewy Body Disease
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11172495 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This research explores how changes in the gut's immune system might be connected to conditions like Parkinson's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies.
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 | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $658,194 |
| NIH project number | 5U01DK140939-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11172495 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
This research is relevant for individuals living with Parkinson's Disease, dementia with Lewy bodies, or those with early signs like isolated REM Sleep Behavior Disorder.
✕Less likely to help
Patients whose condition is not related to Lewy Body Diseases or gut-immune system interactions may not directly benefit from this specific line of inquiry.
What this research studies
We know that Lewy Body Diseases, including Parkinson's and dementia with Lewy bodies, are serious brain disorders without a cure. Recent findings suggest that other parts of the body, especially the gut, might play a role in these conditions. This project aims to understand how the gut's immune system and the bacteria living there interact and contribute to the development of Lewy Body Diseases. We are particularly interested in special immune cells in the gut that are similar to those found in the brain and how they handle certain proteins linked to these diseases. By looking closely at these connections, we hope to uncover new ways to understand and potentially treat these conditions.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could reveal new biological markers or targets for future treatments that address the gut's role in Lewy Body Diseases.
How similar studies have gone: While emerging evidence points to gut involvement, this comprehensive approach to characterizing pathologic, immunologic, microbiologic, and physiologic parameters in patients is 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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Gut-immune system links in Lewy Body Disease
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.
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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.
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.