Parkinson’s disease is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases. This dreaded disease is not restricted to movement issues ( as normally perceived) but involves other parts of the body including gut.
There has been a lot of underlying research to define the disease & discover the therapeutics used to control its symptoms, still there is no cure. However ongoing research has found out that the current model of understanding the human body is irrelevant & the assumed acceptable risk related to collateral damage while curing diseases can actually result in detrimental impact on our overall holistic health. It has been found that the gut microbiome has a role to play in Parkinson’s disease.
We will discuss at length about Parkinson’s disease & role of gut microbiome in its development.
Parkinson’s disease impacts a specific part of the brain, causing progessive damage & resulting in a variety of symptoms which you may not be aware of. Parkinson is a progressive neurological disease in which loss of nerve cells in the brain’s substantia nigra affects motor skills, movement & muscle function. The degenerative loss of neurons that produces neurotransmitter- dopamine( vital for movement) prevents messages which control our movement from being transmitted. As such symptoms of Parkinson’s disease become apparent. As number of these Neuron’s decline, the symptoms progressions & new ones develop.
Let us discuss in detail about these symptoms.
There are characteristic signs of this disease like stiffness & tremors but there are some hidden ones as well which impact many common functions. The symptoms of Parkinson differ between individuals. Besides, progression of symptoms may be faster in some people while slow in others. The symptoms can be broken down into motor & non-motor related. Motor symptoms are one impacting ones while non-motors ones are not as obvious but impact a patient’s daily life.
Some of these symptoms include:
| Motor | Non-Motor |
| Tremor | Pain |
| Stiffness | Sleep Disturbance & Fatigue |
| Slow Movements | Hallucinations |
| Freezing | Memory Issues |
| Muscle Cramping | Speech & Communication Problems |
| Dry mouth | |
| Difficulty in swallowing |
Although no specific cause is pinpointed, several factors are said to play a role in its development. In fact, our genes, environment & ageing all have a role to play in development of this neurodegenerative disorder. So what risks are associated with Parkinsons?
- Family History
- Living in Rural Areas
- History of Depression
- Exposure to pesticide & toxins
Is this Genetic?
Our genes are what makes us distinctive. We inherit equally from our father & mother, giving us 2 copies of more than 25000 genes. Together these pairs make up your genome & define who you are. It is little changes in your genome that makes you different from your brother, friends & co-workers. But some changes in your genes also known as gene variants ( mutations) can make protein to work differently than expected. These changes can actually increase risk of specific illness or disease. Having said this Parkinson is no different. So the question arises, does this run in families? For a small majority of people, it is genetically related. However for a lot of us it is a fancy term with no known cause. Some people carry some genetic variant that makes them more susceptible to attracting Parkinson’s. People who develop symptoms at an early age are more likely to have genetic link. There are a number of genes that may show changes associated with development & progression of disease early in life. However, having a genetic predisposition does not mean that you are going to develop it. In fact, genetics are responsible for only 15% of Parkinson’s cases pointing towards the fact that there is interplay between gene & environmental factors. Exposure to toxic chemicals is just one case in point.
Pesticides are commonly used in many industries. Prolonged & regular exposure to agriculture pesticides can cause neurological changes in the human brain. These changes interfere with cells in such a way that they imitate those genetic variations that causes this dreaded disease. People who are exposed to these chemicals upto 2 to 2.5 times are at higher risk of attracting this disease. Some heavy metals & abuse of illicit drugs is also known to contribute to risk of attracting this disease. These toxins cause dopamine producing neurons to die, reducing levels of this transmitter & ultimately resulting in onset of this disease.
Your gut microbiome & Parkinson’s disease
People with Parkinson’s often mention digestive symptoms & issues before they are diagnosed with disease & it could be linked to your gut microbiome.
Earlier research suggested that Parkinson’s disease can actually start in the gut. Lewy bodies- alpha-synuclein protein cells(considered a marker of cell death & neurodegeneration) are found not only in nerve cells but also in the gut’s nervous system(ENS). It was found that alpha-synuclein protein cells travel from gut to brain through the vagus nerve.
Gut microbes could cause over production of alpha-synuclein resulting in some of the movement issues associated with the disease. It was found that patients with Parkinsons may have some specific gut microbiome that may be involved.
Role of inflammation
A list of symptoms that point out towards Parkinson has grown to include certain digestive issues such as nausea. Besides, people suffering from Irritable bowel disease(IBD, Crohn’s) have higher risk of attracting Parkinsons as compared to the average person.
Intestinal inflammation is a hallmark of people suffering from IBD & may be spotted in patients suffering from Parkinsons. This is what helps to evaluate the early development of the disease. Given that inflammation is linked to Gut Dysbiosis, we are finding answers to Parkinsons in the gut microbiome. It is said that if the gut is under chronic inflammation for a prolonged period, it can increase the production of alpha-synuclein protein cells. Ultimately, this is all linked to Gut-Brain connection.
Inflammation in the gut & other places has an impact on the central nervous system(CNS). In fact, inflammation throughout the body with elevated levels of pro-inflammatory molecules(Cytokines) in color, brain & CNS may be linked to Parkinsons.
Changes in microbial composition can cause reduction in production of beneficial microbilites including short chain fatty acids. Specifically, Butyrate that maintains gut lining & chronic inflammation is lower in Parkinson’s patients. Besides, Butyrate producing bacteria are not found in abundance. This is important since these microbes keep inflammation at bay & strengthen your intestinal lining. It also communicated with your Enteric nervous system in the gut to keep things moving through colon. With less Butyrates comes less bowel movement & more constipation. 30% of people having Parkinson experience gastrointestinal symptoms( having constipation is one of the them besides vomiting). However, If the disease does start in the gut, future interventions targeting this organ, rather than the brain, may even help prevent or even manage Parkinson’s.
Probiotics, prebiotics, and polyphenols all have the potential to protect us from Parkinson’s disease. That’s because they can positively affect the composition of the gut microbiome, strengthen the gut barrier, and reduce the inflammatory response, all of which are implicated in the development and progression of the disease.
Parkinson’s is the second most common neurodegenerative disease behind Alzheimer’s. At first glance, it’s easy to mistake it for a condition which only affects movement, but behind this façade is a combination of symptoms which can make everyday life difficult, and eventually become fatal.
Learn how changing your gut bacteria diversity can help you prevent occurrence of this dreaded disease Sign up for our gut intelligence solution here.
