Understanding the Gut-Brain Connection in Parkinson's Disease
The Bidirectional Gut-Microbiota-Brain Axis in Parkinson’s disease: integrating mechanistic biomarkers of disease severity and progression
This project explores how the connection between your gut and brain might affect Parkinson's disease, hoping to find new ways to help patients.
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 ID | NIH-11166511 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
This research looks at how the gut, its microbes, and the brain interact in people with Parkinson's disease. Researchers will gather information and samples from individuals with Parkinson's and those who might be in the very early stages of the disease. They want to see if changes in this gut-brain connection can help predict how severe the disease is or how it might progress over three years. This includes examining gut bacteria, gut health, inflammation, and other biological signs to build a complete picture.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates would include individuals diagnosed with Parkinson's disease or those in the prodromal (early) stages of the condition.
Not a fit: Patients whose condition is not related to Parkinson's disease or its progression would not directly benefit from this specific research.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could lead to new ways to understand the mechanisms of Parkinson's disease and define new therapeutic approaches.
How similar studies have performed: While the gut-brain axis is an active area of research, this specific comprehensive approach to predict Parkinson's severity and progression is a novel integration of multiple biomarkers.
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.