Gut microbes, brain inflammation, and dementia in Parkinson’s disease
Official title: Investigating the Neuroinflammatory and Metabolomic Mechanisms by which the Gut Microbiome Modulates Parkinson's Disease Dementia
Funded at Brigham and Women's Hospital · NIH-11365331 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project looks at how gut bacteria and their chemicals might influence brain inflammation and dementia in Parkinson’s disease and related disorders.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Brigham and Women's Hospital NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | August 24, 2026 |
| Project end | June 30, 2031 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $681,377 |
| NIH project number | 1R01NS140261-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11365331 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People with Parkinson’s disease, Parkinson’s disease dementia, or related dementias, especially those interested in participating in microbiome-related research or family studies.
✕Less likely to help
Individuals without PD, PDD, or related dementias or those not related to the study’s familial cohorts may not directly benefit.
What this research studies
Researchers at Brigham and Women’s Hospital are studying families with inherited forms of neurodegeneration to understand how gut microbes and their metabolites may shape Parkinson’s disease dementia. They use multiple models, including mouse studies and human microbiome data, to connect specific bacteria to disease risk and cognitive decline. The work focuses on how microbial signals interact with brain immune cells to influence brain function in PD-related dementias. The goal is to identify microbiome-related pathways that could become targets for future therapies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new strategies to prevent or slow dementia in Parkinson’s disease by modulating the gut microbiome.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies have linked gut microbiota to PD-related symptoms and dementia, with some experiments showing microbiome transfer affecting disease phenotypes in mice, suggesting potential translational value.
Where this research is happening
-
Brigham and Women's Hospital
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Korecka-Roet, Joanna Aleksandra — Brigham and Women's Hospital
- Study coordinator: Korecka-Roet, Joanna Aleksandra
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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.