Growing evidence suggests Parkinson's disease starts in gut

[Eugene]

Source: The Guardian

Growing evidence suggests Parkinson's disease starts in gut

Research shows key proteins in disease can spread from gastrointestinal tract to brain

Nicola Davis
Wed 26 Jun 2019 16.00 BST

Evidence that Parkinson’s disease may start off in the gut is mounting, according to new research showing proteins thought to play a key role in the disease can spread from the gastrointestinal tract to the brain.

The human body naturally forms a protein called alpha-synuclein which is found, among other places, in the brain in the endings of nerve cells. However, misfolded forms of this protein that clump together are linked to damage to nerve cells, a deterioration of the dopamine system and the development of problems with movement and speech – hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease.

The latest findings, which are based on studies in mice, back up a long-held theory that abnormally folded alpha-synuclein may start off in the gut and then spread to the brain via the vagus nerve – a bundle of fibres that starts in the brainstem and transports signals to and from many of the body’s organs, including the gut.

“It supports and really provides the first experimental evidence that Parkinson’s disease can start in the gut and go up the vagus nerve,” said Ted Dawson, professor of neurology at the Johns Hopkins University school of medicine and co-author of the research.

-snip-

Read more: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2019/jun/26/growing-evidence-suggests-parkinsons-disease-starts-in-gut

[Laffy Kat]

1. You hear more and more about this area of research.

This could be huge. It made me wonder about Alzheimer's, too.

[mopinko]

4. yup. i follow it pretty closely.

my youngest was dx'd w crohn's in '02. this field was just getting hot, as they watched the disease mutate from middle aged ashkinazi men to first world children.

i will be first in line to take the pills when they become available. i dont find it gross at all, and since i get little relief from standard treatment, and few answers from well trained docs, i am happy to jump into the science project.

millions of years of evolution, f'ed up by a century of human science. lol. i aint usually hard like that, but some things make me crazy.

[snacker]

2. Interesting. nt

[Frustratedlady]

3. Just had a member of our family diagnosed with Parkinsons's Disease.

This article gives some hope that research may find help for the victims in our lifetime.

It seems that more and more people are being diagnosed with PD, which is disturbing.

Thank you for posting the article.

[appalachiablue]

5. K & R. Thanks for posting.