Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a multifaceted and evolving condition that impacts each person in unique ways. As research advances, new perspectives are reshaping how we understand where Parkinson’s begins, what influences its progression, and how lifestyle factors-from diet to environment-can play a role in risk and management.

This May, Parkinson Society British Columbia invites you to expand your knowledge through our Global Symposium Series, a three-part online event featuring leading international experts sharing the latest in PD research and care. Each session is designed to inform, inspire, and empower people with Parkinson’s, carepartners, and health professionals alike.

Session 1: Does Parkinson’s Begin in the Gut? Rethinking the Origins of the Disease I Dr. Per Borghammer, MD, PhD, Clinical Professor I Thursday, May 22 | 11:00am – 12:00pm PT

Is Parkinson’s disease truly a brain-first disorder – or could it begin in the gut? In this compelling session, Dr. Per Borghammer, Clinical Professor in the Department of Nuclear Medicine and PET-Centre at Aarhus University (Denmark), will explore the groundbreaking “gut-first” hypothesis and what it could mean for the future of Parkinson’s care.

Drawing from cutting-edge imaging studies and clinical research, Dr. Borghammer will examine how early signs of Parkinson’s may originate in the gastrointestinal system and spread to the brain via the vagus nerve. He’ll also discuss the implications for earlier detection, preventative strategies, and more personalized treatments.

This session invites people with Parkinson’s and carepartners to rethink how the disease develops and how that understanding could transform diagnosis and therapy in years to come.

About Dr. Per Borghammer:

Dr. Per Borghammer is a leading expert in clinical imaging and neurodegenerative disease research, with a focus on Parkinson’s disease. He is a professor of nuclear medicine and neuroscience at the Medical Faculty of Aarhus University in Denmark.

Dr. Per Borghammer explores how Parkinson’s disease begins and progresses, with a special focus on the early stages. His research investigates whether the disease may, in some cases, start outside the brain—such as in the gut—before spreading through the nervous system.

Using advanced brain imaging, laboratory research, and animal models, Dr. Borghammer studies how Parkinson’s spreads and why it affects people differently. His team is also developing new scanning tools to help detect the disease earlier and better understand non-motor symptoms like sleep disturbances and digestive issues.

His work is funded by leading organizations, including the Lundbeck foundation, The Michael J. Fox Foundation, Danish Research Council and Danish Parkinson Association.

Parkinson Society BC appreciates all gifts, as they allow us to continue to offer programs people with Parkinson’s disease and their carepartners rely on. If you wish, you can make a donation by entering an amount in the Additional Donation field.

Please note: These sessions are designed to provide general education and are not intended for individual advice and/or clinical care. Please note that any Q&A sessions that take place will not be recorded.