Could Parkinson's disease start in the gut?

Conclusion This study aimed to investigate a possible link between gut bacteria and degenerative brain diseases such as Parkinson's. In the animal model of Parkinson's, researchers found that the presence of gut bacteria seems to enhance the brain's inflammatory response and lead to greater decrease in motor function. And gut bacteria from people with Parkinson's seemed to have the greatest effect. But does this mean that Parkinson's is essentially a gut disorder and could potentially be treated or prevented with antibiotics? Unfortunately the answer isn't so simple. Although these are interesting findings, biological function in mice isn't exactly the same as in humans, so you can't necessarily apply these findings to the human population. Even if they are applicable in part, this still may not provide the whole answer as to how the disease process of Parkinson's starts. However, it does act as useful early stage research which could pave the way for further studies in humans. Dr. Arthur Roach, Director of Research and Development at Parkinson's UK commented on this study: "This paper shows for the first time a way in which one of the key players in Parkinson's, the protein alpha-synuclein, may have its actions in the brain modified by gut bacteria. It is important to note however that this study has been done in mice and we would need further studies in other model systems and in humans to confirm that this connection is real … There are still many questions to answe...
Source: NHS News Feed - Category: Consumer Health News Tags: Neurology Source Type: news