The Dutch Parkinson and Cognition Study

Parkinson Disease (PD) is a heterogeneous, progressive neurodegenerative disorder which is characterized by a variety of motor and non-motor symptoms. The DUPARC study is a single-centre longitudinal cohort study aimed at deeply phenotyping newly diagnosed PD patients. The main aim is to investigate the relationship between cognitive impairment and both cholinergic and dopaminergic neurodegeneration in the early stages of the disease. In addition, gastrointestinal and visual system dysfunction in PD and their role in the underlying pathology are further explored in a longitudinal setup. Treatment-naïve participants will undergo extensive motor- and non-motor assessment, imaging, and microbiome assessment at time of diagnosis, and will be followed for at least 3 years.