Characterization of Gastrointestinal and Neuroenteric Dysfunction in Parkinson's Disease (2017)

Patients with Parkinson's often suffer from debilitating gastrointestinal (GI) issues in addition to many other motor and non-motor symptoms. These can manifest as delayed stomach emptying, gas/bloating, and severe constipation. However, the specific details of GI complaints by PD patients are poorly understood. We seek funding to better characterize GI issues in PD patients, and define the underlying mechanisms by investigating GI symptoms, studying movement of food through the digestive tract, and characterizing communication between the gut and the brain. This study will foster collaboration between movement disorder neurologists, PD patients and gastroenterologists to provide critical information that can lead to innovative therapies in the future to treat GI dysfunction in PD.