Tests to predict how Parkinson's will progress
Official title: Biomarkers of disease severity and progression in Parkinson's
Funded at Portland VA Medical Center · NIH-11263612 · Data updated 2026-11-12
Researchers will use a special type of brain scan and blood tests to look for markers that help predict how Parkinson's disease will change over time for people with the condition, especially veterans.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Portland VA Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Portland, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2023 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| NIH project number | 5IK2CX002539-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11263612 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
People diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who can undergo MRI scanning and provide blood samples, including veterans, would be ideal candidates.
✕Less likely to help
People who cannot have MRI (for example those with certain implanted devices) or who cannot consent due to advanced dementia may not be able to participate or benefit.
What this research studies
You would get a magnetic resonance spectroscopic imaging (MRSI) scan that measures brain energy-related chemicals and give small blood samples for tests of immune cell mitochondrial activity (Nrf2). The team will compare these measures with patients' symptoms and thinking over time to see which patterns link to faster or slower decline. The work focuses on people with Parkinson's, with attention to veterans who have higher disease risk. Results could help doctors spot who is likely to worsen sooner and tailor care or trial enrollment.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this could allow earlier identification of patients likely to decline faster, improving counseling, treatment planning, and clinical trial matching.
How similar studies have gone: Prior studies link mitochondrial problems to Parkinson's, but using MRSI plus blood-based Nrf2 measures together as predictive biomarkers for progression is relatively new and unproven.
Where this research is happening
-
Portland VA Medical Center
Portland, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Neilson, Lee — Portland VA Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Neilson, Lee
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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.