2023-05-22 03:13:38
Researchers have made a discovery that could be groundbreaking: They have identified a strain of bacteria in the gut that could be the cause of Parkinson’s.
Helsinki – In an animal study, Finnish researchers have identified a specific strain of bacteria in the gut that could be the cause of Parkinson’s. The Results of the study by the team of scientists from the University of Helsinki, which is published on the Swiss science portal frontiers have been published could help doctors track down people who carry these particular bacteria and use them as potential targets for future therapies.
Researchers suspect “Parkinson proteins” as a key indicator for the disease
The disease affects over 10 million people worldwide, according to the German Parkinson Society (dpg) around 400,000 people are ill in Germany alone. The shaking sickness is often announced years in advance by early warning signs – a new Parkinson’s test detects the disease before it breaks out. Just last year, risk factors for Parkinson’s were examined in another study.
Parkinson’s leads to various sequelae such as dementia, depression and difficulty speaking and eating. Typically, motor disorders are a characteristic symptom.
The main cause of Parkinson’s, for which there is currently no cure, is still unknown to researchers. However, it is believed that the condition is triggered by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is known that people with Parkinson’s disease have increased deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein in the brain, so-called “Parkinson proteins”.
Found the cause of the disease? Researchers discover intestinal bacteria that could trigger Parkinson’s
These deposits play a role in changing nerve cells in the brain, similar to dementia and Alzheimer’s. In animal studies, the Finnish researchers have identified specific strains of the bacterium Desulfovibrio in the gut that may be responsible for the accumulation of these “Parkinson’s proteins”.
Previous studies had already provided indications of a possible role of the intestinal bacterium in Parkinson’s disease. Professor Per Saris, a microbiologist involved, explains: “Results from a previous study suggested that Desulfovibrio bacteria may have something to do with the onset of the disease.” It has been suspected for years that a toxin or bacteria that produce toxins that could cause Parkinson’s.
Constipation: early warning signs of a disease that does not appear for years
The background: As an early warning sign of Parkinson’s, constipation often precedes the first movement disorders, sometimes even ten years before the symptoms appear, when the brain is already damaged. “It was therefore only logical to investigate bacteria as the cause of the alpha-synuclein accumulation,” says Saris. In addition to bacteria, various other factors such as certain foods can also affect the intestinal flora.
The researchers identified Desulfovibrio bacteria in the stool samples of ten Parkinson’s patients. These samples were then administered to worms to see which animals were producing more alpha-synuclein proteins. It turned out that the worms from Parkinson’s patients had significantly higher levels of these proteins. They also died earlier compared to the worms that were fed stool samples from healthy people.
Parkinson’s: These symptoms can herald the disease years in advance
- digestive problems such as constipation
- Impaired sense of smell and taste (can be tested with oregano)
- sleep disorders
- Strong muscle tension
- Changed typeface
- erectile dysfunction
Eliminating the bacteria in the gut could be a new approach to treating Parkinson’s, researchers say
The researchers are now discussing a possible new therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s by removing harmful bacteria in the intestine. They emphasize that screening people who carry the Desulfovibrio strains and then clearing these bacteria from the gut could help prevent Parkinson’s. In addition, these measures could potentially alleviate the symptoms of Parkinson’s patients and slow down the progression of the disease.
The next step is to compare genetic information to identify genetic differences between the bacteria from people with and without Parkinson’s disease.
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