Understanding how gut health affects Parkinson's disease
Official title: The Bidirectional Gut-Microbiota-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s disease: integrating mechanistic biomarkers of disease severity and progression
Funded at Rush University Medical Center · NIH-10986713 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how gut health might affect Parkinson's disease and will involve people with the condition to see if changes in gut bacteria can influence how the disease progresses and how severe it is.
Quick facts
| Grant type | U01 cooperative agreement |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Rush University Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Chicago, United States) |
| Project start | August 15, 2024 |
| Project end | June 30, 2029 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $514,873 |
| NIH project number | 1U01DK140923-01 |
| Project ID | NIH-10986713 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease, particularly those experiencing varying degrees of disease severity.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or those with unrelated neurological conditions may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the connection between gut health and Parkinson's disease (PD) by examining how disruptions in the Gut-Microbiota-Brain Axis (GMBA) may influence the severity and progression of the disease. The study will involve both cross-sectional and longitudinal assessments over three years, utilizing clinical measures and biological markers to evaluate the relationship between gut microbiota, inflammation, and PD. By analyzing data from existing and newly recruited participants, the research aims to uncover insights into the mechanisms of PD and identify potential new treatment strategies.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new therapeutic approaches that improve the management and treatment of Parkinson's disease.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the gut-brain connection in various neurological disorders, suggesting that this approach may yield valuable insights for Parkinson's disease as well.
Where this research is happening
-
Rush University Medical Center
Chicago, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Keshavarzian, Ali — Rush University Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Keshavarzian, Ali
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
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Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease: how gut bugs relate to symptoms and progression
A multi-year study will look at gut bacteria and related markers in people with Parkinson’s disease to understand how the gut-brain connection may influence symptoms and progression.
-
Gut-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s Disease: biomarkers and procedures to track progression
A patient-focused program to study how gut health and the brain interact in Parkinson’s disease using biomarkers and clinical procedures.
-
Gut microbiome clues for Parkinson’s disease progression
A study looks at how gut bacteria and their chemicals relate to Parkinson’s disease over time to find potential biomarkers and new treatment ideas.
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease and how they relate to disease severity and progression
A study at Rush University Medical Center will look at how gut health and brain disease interact in people with Parkinson’s to better understand how the illness grows and gets worse.
-
Gut microbiome and Parkinson's disease
This project looks at gut bacteria and the chemicals they make in people with Parkinson's disease over time to find patterns linked to symptoms and progression.
-
Gut–brain connections in Parkinson's disease
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.
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.