For years we ’ve been assuming – for good rationality – that the reason behind Parkinson ’s disease is all in the brain . But of late scientists have been ask a more profound feeler to the status , with some now claiming that its root cause may in fact be found in the gut .
Presenting their researchat the annual American Society for Microbiology meeting this week , scientists have uncover a likely link not only between bowel flora and Parkinson ’s but also the likely role that viruses might play in influencing the microbiome . If proven , this could lead to a novel treatment for the disease that involves antiviral drugs .
The team from the Human Microbiology Institute in New York looked at the diverseness of bacterium find in the gut of 32 patients diagnosed with Parkinson ’s disease and liken it to the microbiome of 28 salubrious patient role . Curiously , they feel that there was a much high phone number of viruses that aim the gut ’s microorganisms , known as bacteriophages , in those with the long - terminal figure neurodegenerative upset .
Crucially , the researchers found that there was an increase in the bacteriophage that point and get rid of theLactococcusgroup of bacterium . The wallop of these viruses could clearly be regard , as patient with Parkinson ’s had 10 time lessLactococcusin their bowel . Interestingly , these bacteria are known to bet a role in producing dopamine , a neurotransmitter entail in the disease . The team could rule out the wallop that Parkinson ’s medication may have had , as all those taking part in the work were doing so before being prescribed medication .
The researcher , therefore , suggest that the higher stratum of the virus may have cause a decrease in the bacterium , which had a knock - on effect on the nerves that link the gut and the genius . This chain reactioncould potentially have bear upon the development of Parkinson ’s disease .
While this impression is a compelling one – particularly as our understanding of the microbiome and the function it toy in disease has change radically over the last decade – the suggestion from this researchis far from conclusive . For example , it might be that the Parkinson ’s medicament is not to charge for the change in catgut flora , but that the nerve damage comes first survey by the alteration of the bacteria .
Whatever the case may be , this study does suggest at the challenging role our bowel may fiddle in our mental wellness , and will certainly be of vivid focus for far more enquiry in the future .
