Updated Research on Parkinson’s Disease and the Gut Connection
Parkinson’s Disease affects millions of Americans, but scientists have yet to fully understand what causes a person to develop the disease. Currently, it is believed that a combination of genetic and environmental factors contribute to the risk of developing Parkinson’s Disease. It is known that clumps, or plaques, of the protein alpha-synuclein, are found in the brains of people who have PD. Serious research is being conducted on “How” and “Why” these plaques develop and whether they are a cause or result of the disease process, as well as the potential role of alpha-synuclein as a biomarker for the disease.
In addition to the four major symptoms of Parkinson’s Disease; tremor, bradykinesia (slow movement), muscle rigidity and poor balance, there are many non-motor symptoms that people experience which can often appear prior to the development of motor symptoms. Constipation is one of these symptoms. Researchers have discovered alterations in the digestive system of people with Parkinson’s Disease that may lead to earlier diagnoses.
The Michael J. Fox Foundation has been funding a research project that is investigating the link between alterations in Gut Bacteria and Parkinson’s Disease. Alpha-synuclein is found naturally in the gut, and the hypothesis is that its aggregation could begin there and enter the CNS through the nervous system of the digestive tract.
Recent research published in Movement Disorders demonstrated that there were differences in the number of bacteria between healthy volunteers and people with Parkinson’s Disease. Researchers also discovered that people in different geographical locations (the study looked at Seattle, New York, and Atlanta) had different types of bacteria in their gut. Since the bacteria in the gut are responsible for eliminating toxins, and environmental toxins have been proposed to contribute to the development of Parkinson’s Disease, this finding suggests that the chemistry of the GI tract may be an important predictor of who may develop Parkinson’s Disease and also paves the way for new treatment mechanisms.
Research is ongoing, with frequent new discoveries. Wendy Webb Schoenwald Physical Therapy and Vestibular Rehabilitation staff will continue to blog and inform about Parkinson’s research. You may also visit the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s website at michaeljfox.org or The National Parkinson Foundation’s site at parkinson.org for updates on research findings.
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