Parkinsons and other neurodegenerative diseases are known to be associated with abnormal accumulation and aggregation of this protein, Fonseca said. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. You may also subscribe to FAPESP news agency at http://agencia. FAPESP. br/subscribe . Research used to focus on the brain, and little progress was made in this direction for decades. People predisposed to sporadic Parkinsons usually suffer from recurring constipation many years before they manifest the disease. Were now focusing on the gut instead. Some of the results were reported in February in an article published in the journal iScience.