Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that gradually affects movement.
People may develop shaking, muscle stiffness, slower movement and problems with balance, while some also experience sleep, mood, memory and digestive problems.
For many years, scientists have tried to understand why Parkinson’s develops. Genetics can play a role, but most cases cannot be explained by inherited changes alone, leading researchers to investigate environmental factors and changes elsewhere in the body.
One increasingly important area of research is the gut. Scientists have found growing evidence that changes in gut bacteria may be connected with Parkinson’s, although exactly how these microorganisms might influence the disease remains uncertain.
Researchers at the University of Helsinki investigated bacteria belonging to the Desulfovibrio genus. These bacteria can live naturally in the human digestive system, but different strains may behave differently inside the gut.
The research was led by Professor Per Saris and published in Frontiers in Cellular and Infection Microbiology. The team studied whether Desulfovibrio strains collected from people with Parkinson’s could encourage changes associated with the disease.
A major feature of Parkinson’s is the abnormal buildup of a protein called alpha-synuclein. Normally, this protein is found in nerve cells, but in Parkinson’s it can fold incorrectly and form clumps that are associated with damage to brain cells.
To test the possible bacterial connection, the researchers used the small worm Caenorhabditis elegans as a laboratory model. Some worms were exposed to Desulfovibrio bacteria collected from people with Parkinson’s, while others received strains collected from healthy people.
The researchers found more alpha-synuclein clumps in worms exposed to bacteria from Parkinson’s patients. The clumps also tended to be larger than those seen after exposure to strains from healthy participants.
These findings build on earlier work from the Helsinki team. In a previous study, the researchers reported that higher levels of Desulfovibrio bacteria were associated with more severe Parkinson’s symptoms.
However, the new study does not prove that these bacteria cause Parkinson’s in humans. Experiments in laboratory organisms are useful for exploring possible biological mechanisms, but the human digestive system and nervous system are far more complicated.
Scientists are particularly interested in the possibility that Parkinson’s-related changes may begin outside the brain in at least some patients. One theory proposes that abnormal alpha-synuclein could first develop in the gut and later spread toward the brain through nerve pathways, including the vagus nerve.
If future human studies confirm that particular gut bacteria help start or accelerate this process, the discovery could create new possibilities for diagnosis and treatment. Doctors might eventually be able to identify people carrying harmful bacterial strains and develop ways to reduce or remove them.
That possibility remains experimental. There is currently no established treatment for Parkinson’s that works by eliminating Desulfovibrio, and people should not try to alter their gut bacteria with antibiotics or other treatments without medical advice.
Researchers also continue to study lifestyle and environmental factors associated with Parkinson’s risk. Regular physical activity is strongly encouraged for general health and can be especially valuable for people who already have Parkinson’s because it can support mobility, strength and balance.
A balanced diet, good sleep and protection from head injuries are also sensible ways to support overall health. Researchers have additionally studied possible links involving pesticides, vitamins, caffeine and other factors, but these findings do not provide a guaranteed way to prevent Parkinson’s.
The Helsinki study adds to growing interest in the connection between the digestive system and the brain. Rather than showing that one type of bacteria is the single cause of Parkinson’s, it offers a possible clue about one biological pathway that deserves much more investigation.
Future studies in larger groups of people will be needed to determine whether harmful Desulfovibrio strains actually contribute to Parkinson’s development and whether changing these bacteria can affect the disease.
If that connection is confirmed, the gut could become an important new target in the search for ways to prevent or slow Parkinson’s.
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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