Plain-English translation of NCT05347407 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ · Source last updated · Translation generated · How we translate trials
Read our Parkinson Disease research guide →Researchers are studying whether changes in nerve cells in your gut can serve as an early warning sign for Parkinson's disease. The study collects small tissue samples from your intestines during a routine colonoscopy — a procedure many people get anyway for cancer screening. By looking at these samples under a microscope and studying the bacteria in your gut, the researchers hope to find a simple way to catch Parkinson's disease before symptoms become severe.
Parkinson's disease can take months or years to diagnose, even though changes in the brain associated with the disease may already be visible in gut nerve cells. Unlike brain tissue, gut tissue is easy to access through a colonoscopy. This study hopes to develop a simple blood test or biomarker that could help doctors identify Parkinson's disease much earlier — when treatment might be more effective.
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You will come in for a single visit where you will undergo a colonoscopy — a routine procedure to examine your intestines. During this colonoscopy, the doctor will collect small tissue samples from your gut nerves, which will be studied in the laboratory. The samples are obtained through tiny pinches of tissue, which is the standard way colonoscopies are performed. The entire process takes one visit and fits into care you may already be receiving for health screening.
AI-generated summary from trial data · Jun 10, 2026 · Not medical advice
United States
Sponsor
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Collaborators
National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
Enrollment target
~60 participants
Started
December 2020
Primary completion
June 2028
Age range
45 Years – 75 Years
Last updated on clinicaltrials.gov in May 2026.
Reach out to the team running this trial. Response times vary — some teams are faster than others.
Central contact
Virginia Gao, MD PhD
Weill Medical College of Cornell University
Tell us you're interested and we'll help connect you with the research team. We'll walk you through what to expect first — no email needed to get started.