Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multisystem disorder characterized by both motor and non-motor dysfunctions. While the neurologic features of PD often lead to the diagnosis symptoms are not limited to motor dysfunction. GI issues may present years before motor symptoms causing researchers to hypothesize that the gut plays a key but undefined role in PD.

The NIH launched the Gut-Brain Communication in Parkinson’s Disease Consortium (GBPDC) to answer questions about the role of the GI tract in PD. The consortium is composed of observational studies to better understand the mechanisms that connect the gut and brain in PD.

This is such an exciting opportunity for the DCRI to contribute to research into GI symptoms and changes in gut-brain communication in patients with PD Sanders said. This research will advance and accelerate our understanding of the potential role of the GI tract in the initiation pathogenesis and progression of PD with a goal to ultimately improve patient diagnosis care and outcomes.

The state-of-the-art centralized biorepository at Duke follows biobanking best practices and ensures the integrity of specimens Newby explained. The biorepository is such a valuable asset to this research allowing researchers to draw the important conclusions that will advance our understanding of PD.

Common Data Elements (CDE) related to the brain and PD are well established but those established CDEs are not related to the gut Wruck said. There is an opportunity for us to develop CDEs that would be broadly useful to the research community.

Source: https://neurology.duke.edu/news/new-gut-brain-parkinsons-disease-consortium-studies-connection-between-gut-microbiome-and