“Discovery: Gut Bacteria Strain Identified as Potential Cause of Parkinson’s Disease”

2023-05-17 18:45:00

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 have developed a test that can detect Parkinson’s before the onset of the disease.

© Paul Hartl/imago/symbol image

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.

Recognize Parkinson’s early: 13 symptoms sometimes announce the disease years in advance

The limited perception of the smell of spices, especially oregano, is considered a typical, first early symptom of Parkinson’s disease. Anyone who notices that they can no longer smell oregano or vanilla should consult their family doctor with this observation. © Ruby Page/Imago

Even constipation that lasts longer should be checked out by a doctor. Chronic constipation is one of the early signs of Parkinson’s. © Iordache Magdalena/Imago

Early symptoms of Parkinson’s disease are mostly unspecific, as the German Parkinson’s Association e. V. confirmed. Those affected report complaints in the neck and lumbar region as well as diffuse back pain. Especially at the beginning of Parkinson’s disease, the neck, shoulders or upper arms are primarily affected by the stiffening of the muscles – the symptoms are then often mistaken for a rheumatic or orthopedic disease. © YAY Images/Imago

The breakdown of nerve cells in the black matter in the brain affects various parts of the body, not just motor functions. Some people with Parkinson’s notice early on that their desire to have sex is impaired. Men are particularly affected by erectile dysfunction and premature ejaculation. Women with Parkinson’s also suffer from reduced excitability. © tommaso79/Imago

Man lying sad in bed

Depressive moods can also show up in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease. Especially in these cases, no connection to Parkinson’s is often recognized. © tommaso79/Imago

man wakes up

Sleep disorders, especially in the dream sleep phase with sometimes violent nightmares, can also indicate early on Parkinson’s disease or increase the risk of it. For people over the age of 50 who are aware of this form of sleep disorder without other causes, the risk of Parkinson’s increases to almost 80 percent in the coming years. The disruption of REM sleep in the dream sleep phase is a clear early symptom of Parkinson’s. © Monkey Business 2/Imago

person writes letter

Some of those affected notice that their typeface is getting smaller – this can also be an indication of Parkinson’s disease. © YAY Images/Imago

Woman talking to family on the phone

Outsiders or relatives sometimes notice that some of those affected speak more quietly than usual, especially in direct conversations. This can also be a sign of developing Parkinson’s disease. © Zoonar.com/Dasha Petrenko/Imago

Hand holding Hand holding a glass

One of the most well-known and typical symptoms of Parkinson’s is shaking (tremor) in one or both hands. It is not uncommon for those affected to have to support and hold their trembling hand with their second hand. The tremor can also be seen in the legs – initially only in certain situations, such as when running or climbing stairs. The trembling of the hands is often evident when writing or gripping objects. © Astrid08/Imago

Woman holding hand with glass of water spilling

The lack of exercise, so-called akinesia, is one of the typical symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Movements are slowed down or happen randomly, so reaching for the glass can also result in the contents being unintentionally spilled. © Astrid08/Imago

Elderly man walks with a cane

Increased muscle tone, so-called rigor, is a typical sign of Parkinson’s. This symptom causes the muscles to be stiff and tense, even though there is no conscious effort. Rigor can also be brought on by stress, anxiety, or muscle injuries. Rigor in Parkinson’s often takes the form of a hunched posture with arms bent. © Zoonar.com/Yuri Arcurs peopleimages.com/Imago

Woman with bowl of cereal

Difficulty swallowing, so-called dysphagia, is one of the most common symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Direct signs are then the frequent swallowing of one’s own saliva or certain foods and drinks, frequent clearing of the throat or coughing up to coughing fits, difficult breathing after swallowing, increased salivation and a lump in the throat. Indirect signs of dysphagia in Parkinson’s disease may be delayed: dry skin, especially on the hands, weight and fluid loss, heartburn and belching, increased body temperature, bronchitis, and pneumonia. © Cavan Images/Imago

Oily skin with high sebum production

Some people suffering from Parkinson’s develop a so-called ointment face, a greasy, shiny face as a result of increased sebum production in the skin. © YAY Images/Imago

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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