The Origin of Parkinson’s: Beyond the Brain
While Parkinson’s disease is primarily considered a neurodegenerative disorder affecting movement, new research suggests its origins might lie in the gut.
A study by Columbia researchers David Sulzer, Ph.D., and Dritan Agalliu, Ph.D., along with their graduate students, provides new evidence supporting this “gut-first” hypothesis of Parkinson’s disease.
The study was published in the journal Neuron.
Autoimmunity and the Role of the Gut
Sulzer’s prior research pointed to the role of an autoimmune response in Parkinson’s. In patients with the disease, a protein called alpha-synuclein misfolds and accumulates within neurons, causing cell damage.
Sulzer and his collaborators found that fragments of this misfolded protein can also appear on the external surface of neurons, making them vulnerable to autoimmune attacks.
“These immune cells are likely primed somewhere before attacking brain neurons. The gut becomes a compelling candidate,” said Sulzer.
Groundbreaking Experiments
To explore this further, the researchers created a mouse model capable of displaying pieces of misfolded alpha-synuclein on cell surfaces.
They then injected these mice with alpha-synuclein and monitored effects on the brain and gut.
Surprisingly, while no Parkinson’s-like symptoms appeared in the brain, the gut showed significant immune attacks on neurons, resulting in constipation— a symptom seen in most Parkinson’s patients years before diagnosis.
A Shift in Understanding Parkinson’s
“This study suggests that Parkinson’s may partially be an autoimmune disease, initiated in the gut,” Sulzer says.
“If we could detect and disrupt this autoimmune response early enough in the gut, we might be able to prevent the disease from affecting the brain.”
The Future: A Comprehensive Mouse Model
The researchers plan to further examine why their mice did not develop Parkinson’s symptoms in the brain.
They hypothesize that the young age of the mice may have prevented immune cells from crossing the blood-brain barrier, which usually weakens with age.
Clinical Implications
If validated, these findings could radically change our approach to diagnosing and treating Parkinson’s.
Detecting the autoimmune response in its early stages could potentially halt the progression of the disease before it impacts the brain, offering hope to millions affected by this debilitating condition.
Further Research Needed
Sulzer highlights the importance of further work: “Our ultimate aim is to develop a mouse model that fully mimics the human disease process, which is currently lacking.
This would be crucial for answering questions unexplorable in humans and for developing better therapies.”
If you care about Parkinson’s disease, please read studies that Vitamin B may slow down cognitive decline, and the Mediterranean diet could help lower the risk of Parkinson’s disease.
For more information about brain health, please see recent studies that blueberry supplements may prevent cognitive decline, and results showing Plant-based diets could protect cognitive health from air pollution.
The study was published in Neuron.
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