Understanding how swallowing problems develop in Parkinson's disease
Official title: Progression of Dysphagia in Parkinson's Disease
Funded at University of Texas at Austin · NIH-10710205 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how swallowing problems, called dysphagia, develop in people with Parkinson's disease, so we can find out when these issues start and help patients get treatment sooner for better management.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R03 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Texas at Austin NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Austin, United States) |
| Project start | September 26, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2025 |
| Funding year | 2023 |
| Award (this year) | $152,297 |
| NIH project number | 5R03HD107654-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10710205 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease who may be experiencing or are at risk for swallowing difficulties.
✕Less likely to help
Patients without a diagnosis of Parkinson's disease or those who do not experience swallowing issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the progression of swallowing disorders, known as dysphagia, in individuals with Parkinson's disease. It aims to identify when and how swallowing function begins to decline, using advanced techniques to measure swallowing physiology over time. By observing both cross-sectionally and longitudinally, the study seeks to fill a critical gap in knowledge that currently delays therapy until significant symptoms appear. This could lead to earlier interventions and better management of dysphagia in Parkinson's patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to earlier detection and treatment of swallowing disorders in Parkinson's disease, improving patients' quality of life.
How similar studies have gone: While there has been research on dysphagia in Parkinson's disease, this study's specific approach to longitudinally assess swallowing function is relatively novel.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Texas at Austin
Austin, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Jones, Corinne Ariel — University of Texas at Austin
- Study coordinator: Jones, Corinne Ariel
Related research
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Gut-brain connections in Parkinson’s disease: how the gut and environment shape symptoms
A Mayo Clinic team is studying how gut problems, environmental factors, and genetics together influence Parkinson’s disease and its GI symptoms to find biomarkers and better understanding of the disease.
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This project enrolls people with Parkinson’s disease and healthy controls to build a big registry and study how gut function, brain signals, sleep, and circadian rhythms relate to PD symptoms.
-
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.
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.