Studying Parkinson’s beyond the brain

On April 11, World Parkinson Day highlights the need for continued research into this complex neurological disease.

At the Institute Born-Bunge (IBB), research increasingly looks beyond the brain alone. When donors give permission, a small piece of intestinal tissue may also be collected during donation. This allows scientists to study the enteric nervous system, a network of nerves in the gut that may play an important role in the early development of Parkinson’s disease.

In collaboration with Seppe De Schepper, IBB supports research that connects different parts of the body, including brain and gut. Such combined tissue collections remain limited, but are crucial to better understand how the disease starts and progresses.

These efforts underline the importance of donation, and how each contribution can help advance research for future patients.