Parkinson’s disease is a condition that affects how people move. It causes symptoms like shaking, muscle stiffness, and trouble with balance and coordination.
Around 8 million people worldwide live with this disorder, but for centuries, scientists have struggled to understand what causes it. Now, new research is shedding light on a possible answer—one that starts in the gut.
Our bodies are home to trillions of bacteria, especially in the digestive system. Most of these bacteria are helpful. They aid in digestion, boost the immune system, and even affect our mood. But some bacteria may do more harm than good. That seems to be the case with a specific type of gut bacteria called Desulfovibrio.
In 2021, researchers from the University of Helsinki, led by Professor Per Saris, made an important discovery. They found that people with Parkinson’s disease had higher levels of Desulfovibrio bacteria in their gut compared to people without the disease.
What’s more, the more Desulfovibrio bacteria they had, the worse their symptoms were. Other researchers in China have found similar results, strengthening the link.
For a long time, scientists thought Parkinson’s might be mostly genetic—something people inherit from their parents. But only about 10% of cases are believed to be caused by genes. The other 90% are likely due to environmental factors, including exposure to certain chemicals, toxins, or, as this research suggests, harmful bacteria.
So how could a gut bacterium contribute to a brain disease?
Parkinson’s is closely linked to the buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein in the brain. In people with the disease, this protein clumps together and damages nerve cells. To explore the role of Desulfovibrio bacteria, the researchers used tiny worms called Caenorhabditis elegans, which are often used in lab experiments because they are simple and easy to study.
The scientists introduced Desulfovibrio bacteria from Parkinson’s patients into the worms. They found that these bacteria caused larger and more dangerous protein clumps to form—clumps much bigger than those caused by bacteria from healthy people.
This showed that the Desulfovibrio bacteria from Parkinson’s patients could actually trigger the harmful changes seen in the disease.
These findings suggest that if specific strains of Desulfovibrio are causing the damage, removing them from the gut might help stop or slow the disease. Future treatments could involve changing the gut microbiome—the collection of bacteria in the digestive system—to reduce the harmful bacteria and increase helpful ones.
This idea opens a new path toward managing Parkinson’s disease. Instead of only focusing on the brain, scientists and doctors might also look at the gut. A healthier gut could lead to a healthier brain.
While this research is still in the early stages, it’s exciting because it may lead to new and more effective ways to treat—or even prevent—Parkinson’s. It also highlights how important gut health is for the rest of the body, especially the brain.
The study was published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology and may one day change the way we understand and treat this complex condition.
If you’re interested in Parkinson’s disease, you may also want to read studies about how vitamins like Vitamin E and Vitamin D could help protect the brain. Other research has looked into new treatment methods and even possible links between COVID-19 and Parkinson’s.
As science continues to explore the connection between the gut and the brain, we may be getting closer to answers—and new hope—for people with Parkinson’s disease.
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and Mediterranean diet could help lower risk of Parkinson’s.
For more health information, please see recent studies about how wheat gluten might be influencing our brain health, and Olive oil: a daily dose for better brain health..
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