Levels of stool immune factors indicate that intestinal inflammation is present in patients with Parkinson disease (PD), according to a recent study. Stool samples and subjects' self‐reported metadata were obtained from 156 individuals with PD and 110 without, including spouse and nonhousehold controls. Metadata were probed for disease‐associated differences, and levels of 37 immune and angiogenesis factors in stool homogenates were measured by multiplexed immunoassay and compared across experimental groups. Researchers found:

• Patients with PD reported greater incidence of intestinal disease and digestive problems than controls.
• Direct comparison of levels of stool analytes in patients and controls revealed elevated vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 1, interleukin‐1α, and CXCL8 in patients' stool.
• Paired comparison of patients and spouses suggested higher levels of multiple factors in patients, but this was complicated by sex differences.
• Sex, body mass index, a history of smoking, and use of probiotics were found to strongly influence levels of stool analytes.
• Multivariate analysis accounting for these and other potential confounders confirmed elevated levels of interleukin‐1α and CXCL8 and also revealed increased interleukin‐1β and C‐reactive protein in stool in PD.