Researchers at University College London have identified a microbial signature in the gut that could help predict Parkinson's disease in patients who are not yet showing symptoms. The study was funded by the Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research and the Medical Research Council. The researchers compared the gut microbiomes of healthy people with the GBA1 genetic variant for Parkinson's, which indicates they are likely to develop the disease at some point down the line. The findings found that their gut mirrored the intermediate stage of Parkinson's and could be an early warning signal years before symptoms emerge. This breakthrough could help in the development of medical interventions against the disease.