Very interesting information about various things related to the microbiome and PD. If you want to jump to the trials they're recruiting for, go to timestamp 25:00. This video was posted in March 2021, so it might be too late for the trial. I'll come back here and update this once I hear back from them.
Spoiler: one of the trials is investigating if a certain bacteria, which is already known to metabolize Levodopa, is possibly causing the "OFF" periods we all know and don't love? They have an antibiotic that targets the bacteria. It would be wonderful if it works! I'm signed up for it although I'm not verified yet. I think they require you to go there (UCSF) for the first appointment but is completely remote after that.
Update! Well, it's not entirely what I expected. They send someone to your home 3 times over a 6 to 8 week period in order to extract a blood sample and get a stool sample. This means that you must live near one of the University of California campuses, or know someone who does so that you can travel there and meet up with them. I suppose you could also meet them at a hotel or B&B or whatever. I offered to come right to them (UCSF) but they didn't like that idea for some reason.
I have a brother in Sacramento, which is close to UC Davis, so I've set up a phone call this coming Monday for a "chat". I assume that they'll screen me then. I'll still report back here, even though there seems to be little interest here so far.
Another update. A phone interview went well and their representative seemed positive about how well I fit into their trial. They sent some paperwork along with more info on what they're doing and why. Briefly, their lab tests showed that certain bacteria which can be found in human guts break down (eat) levodopa much more than others. Since we (PWP) essentially are feeding these bacteria every time we take our meds, it's reasonable to say that these particular bacteria could, over time, become a problem by, basically, eating the levodopa that we expect to get into our brains.
On the positive side, they've discovered that these bacteria are extra-sensitive to a mild antibiotic. This trial is to see if small doses of Rifaximin (antibiotic) will kill off these L-dopa thieves in actual human guts! If so, will that let those of us who have had to take more and more L/C (and yet have "OFF" periods) take less again? Wouldn't that be fantastic!
If I'm officially accepted, I'll keep updating with more info as I learn it. Of course, I might just receive the placebo, so keep that in mind.
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