# Inflammatory Insights: Analysis of a Fecal Biomarker in Neurodegenerative and Gastrointestinal Disorders

## TL;DR

This study finds that PD patients have high fecal calprotectin levels, similar to IBD patients, suggesting complex mechanisms beyond gut inflammation.

## Contribution

The study reveals that elevated calprotectin in PD is not solely due to aging or gut inflammation, indicating other underlying mechanisms.

## Key findings

- PD patients had mean fecal calprotectin levels of 366.25 μg/g, comparable to IBD patients (mean 537.70 μg/g).
- Calprotectin levels in PD increased with age but not in IBD patients.
- A weak positive correlation between calprotectin and intestinal inflammation was observed in PD patients.

## Abstract

Background/Objectives: Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are chronic disorders affecting different organs, and evidence has proposed a bidirectional link between them. Fecal calprotectin, which reflects intestinal inflammation and gut barrier injury, is augmented in different neurodegenerative diseases, including PD. In this study, we aimed to investigate whether fecal calprotectin levels in PD increase independently of gastrointestinal inflammation and aging. Methods: Fecal calprotectin values were compared in two groups (PD and IBD) of 30 patients each, taking into consideration variables such as endoscopic aspects and age. Analyses of fecal calprotectin levels in PD patients show an increase with advancing age, which was not observed in the IBD cohort. Results: Most PD patients had fecal calprotectin values exceeding 200 μg/g (mean value 366.25 μg/g), and their levels were comparable to those of patients with inflammatory bowel disease (Ulcerative Colitis, Crohn’s Disease, mean value 537.70 μg/g). In the PD cohort, a weak positive association between calprotectin levels and inflammatory signs was observed, and in the IBD cohort, higher calprotectin levels were strongly associated with more severe endoscopic modifications. Conclusions: This weak but positive correlation with intestinal inflammation in PD patients suggests the involvement of complex mechanisms, other than those related to inflammaging or gut barrier injuries.