Gut–brain connections in Parkinson's disease
The Bidirectional Gut-Microbiota-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s disease: integrating mechanistic biomarkers of disease severity and progression
['FUNDING_U01'] · RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER · NIH-11362899
This project adds gut and brain tests to look for gut-based signs that track Parkinson's disease progression in people living with Parkinson's.
Quick facts
| Phase | ['FUNDING_U01'] |
|---|---|
| Study type | Nih_funding |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER (nih funded) |
| Locations | 1 site (CHICAGO, UNITED STATES) |
| Trial ID | NIH-11362899 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this research studies
This supplement adds extra gastrointestinal and neurological tests to the existing consortium work to better link gut changes with Parkinson's symptoms. You may be asked to provide stool samples and skin biopsies and to undergo tests such as videofluoroscopic swallowing, anorectal manometry with balloon expulsion, and measurements of intestinal transit time. Specialized laboratory analyses will examine the microbiome using culturomics and metabolomics and will measure intestinal barrier integrity. Rush and partner centers will analyze samples from about 200 additional consortium participants to search for gut-based biomarkers tied to disease severity and progression.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: People diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who can visit a consortium clinic and are willing to provide stool and skin samples and undergo gastrointestinal and swallowing tests would be ideal candidates.
Not a fit: People without Parkinson's, those unable to travel to participating centers, or those who cannot undergo biopsies or GI testing are unlikely to benefit directly from this project.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to new gut-based biomarkers and targets that help diagnose, monitor, or eventually treat Parkinson's disease more effectively.
How similar studies have performed: Previous studies have suggested links between the gut microbiome and Parkinson's, but translating these findings into reliable clinical biomarkers remains largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
CHICAGO, UNITED STATES
- RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER — CHICAGO, UNITED STATES (ACTIVE)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: KESHAVARZIAN, ALI — RUSH UNIVERSITY MEDICAL CENTER
- Study coordinator: KESHAVARZIAN, ALI
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 below.