Impact of Diet on the Microbiome-Immune-Brain Axis in Parkinson's Disease

In a pilot-intervention study, our project will: * develop a practical, low-threshold diet intervention for patients with prodromal and clinical PD. Adherence will be promoted (i) by a patient-oriented approach, (ii) by implementation of the predominantly plant-based New Nordic LPF-diet that is scientifically-based, culturally adapted, sustainable and culinary and (iii) by an innovative web-application. * investigate the acute effects of the predominantly plant-based New Nordic LPF -diet on the microbiome (abundance of SCFA-producing bacteria), gastrointestinal motility, inflammation as well as metabolic and Parkinson-specific clinical outcomes in individuals with prodromal and clinical PD. * investigate potential determinants of long-term changes in the gut microbiome (e.g. dietary adherence, gastrointestinal motility, meal timing and frequency), and factors associated with a high adherence (e.g. acceptance of diet as therapeutic intervention in the prodromal phase, health-related quality of life). The patient-centered intervention program will be tailored to individual needs and preferences of individuals with prodromal and clinical PD. It will be designed to impart knowledge (e.g. on sustainability and health effects) and food literacy (e.g. food merchandize and culinary skills) in group meetings and culinary medicine workshops. Recipe suggestions and shopping guides will consider individual abilities and needs and a web-application is used for information, increasing self-efficacy, motivation, and monitoring. To ensure an easy integration of the diet into everyday life, partners will be included in the program, if applicable. Moreover, cultural preferences as well as financial resources will be considered. Regular feedback using statistics on nutrient intake and overall progress will be implemented to encourage adherence.