Dutch Parkinson and Microbiome Study (DUPARM)

The DUPARM study is the first study to investigate the gut microbiota of still untreated Parkinson’s Disease (PD) subjects. Though PD is a brain disease most known for its motor symptoms (eg. tremor), it is believed that the disease might actually start in the gut and spread towards the brain. Different studies have already shown that the gut microbiome of PD patients differs from that of non-affected individuals. These studies were, however, based on already treated subjects, so it is unclear to what extend these differences can be attributed to PD or its medication.