Immune cells may hold the key to Parkinson's origins

This study explores whether the immune system plays a role in starting and driving Parkinson's disease. Researchers will collect blood, spinal fluid, stool, and saliva from people with REM sleep behavior disorder (a strong early sign of Parkinson's), people already diagnosed with Parkinson's, and healthy volunteers. They will look for immune cells that mistakenly attack a protein called alpha-synuclein, which is linked to Parkinson's, and check whether gut microbes might trigger this immune response. The goal is to understand how Parkinson's begins and progresses, which could lead to earlier detection or new prevention strategies.