Finnish Researchers Identify Gut Bacteria Strain That Could be the Cause of Parkinson’s Disease

2023-05-17 19:02:40

In an animal study, Finnish researchers have identified a specific strain of bacteria in the gut that could be the cause of Parkinson’s.

Helsinki – More than 10 million people worldwide suffer from the disease, which often announces itself years in advance: with early warning signs that indicate Parkinson’s at an early stage. The main cause of the disease, for which there is currently no cure, is still unknown to researchers. Researchers at the University of Helsinki have now made a discovery that could be groundbreaking: they used animal experiments to identify a specific strain of bacteria in the gut that could be the cause of Parkinson’s.

Parkinson’s research: According to the study, intestinal bacteria should trigger the disease

Parkinson’s disease can cause dementia, depression and difficulty speaking and eating, typical symptoms are motor disorders. There is currently no cure for the disease, which affects up to 400,000 people in Germany alone German Parkinson Society (dpg).

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

Researchers still don’t know the direct cause of Parkinson, but most experts believe it’s caused by a combination of genetic and environmental factors. It is also known that the brains of people with Parkinson’s disease contain increased deposits of the protein alpha-synuclein, also known as “Parkinson’s proteins”, which are responsible for changes in nerve cells in the brain, similar to dementia and Alzheimer’s are responsible.

Found the cause of the disease? Researchers discover gut bacteria that could trigger Parkinson’s

In an animal study, scientists at the University of Helsinki have now identified certain strains of the bacterium Desulfovibrio in the gut that may be the cause of the accumulation of these “Parkinsonian proteins”. The researchers believe that the results of their studythe first on the Swiss science portal frontiers was published, can help physicians track down people who carry these special bacteria and use them as targets for possible therapies.

What are Desulfovibrio bacteria?

• Anaerobic Desulfovibrio bacteria are commonly found in soil, water and animal feces.
• We all come into contact with them through food, what we drink and the environment.
• Previous studies show an association between Desulfovibrio bacteria and inflammatory bowel diseases such as ulcerative colitis.

Parkinson’s research: Previous studies had provided evidence of intestinal bacteria

“The results of a previous study indicated that Desulfovibrio bacteria could have something to do with the onset of the disease,” explains the microbiologist Professor Per Saris, who was involved in the study. Saris says researchers have suspected for years that a toxin, or bacteria that produce toxins, could cause Parkinson’s disease.

This is because constipation often precedes movement disorder symptoms—even 10 years beforehand—when the brain is already damaged. “It was therefore only logical to investigate bacteria as the cause of the alpha-synuclein accumulation,” adds the researcher. In addition to bacteria, various other factors can affect intestinal health and attack the intestinal flora.

Parkinson’s research: bacterium found in patients’ intestines

The researchers discovered Desulfovibrio bacteria in the stool samples of ten people who had Parkinson’s disease. 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 amounts of these proteins. In addition, they also died earlier compared to the worms that were fed stool samples from healthy people.

Researchers discuss new therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s: Removal of harmful bacteria in the intestine

“The findings of the study could enable a new therapeutic approach for Parkinson’s,” emphasize the researchers. “Screening of carriers of the Desulfovibrio strains and then removing the bacteria from the gut could help prevent Parkinson’s disease.” .”

The next step is to compare genetic information to identify genetic differences between the bacteria from people with and without Parkinson’s disease.

Header image: © shutterstock/kateryna kon