Parkinson's: Damage to gut lining may increase risk by 76%

Evan Walker
Evan Walker TheMediTary.Com |
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Researchers are finding more evidence of the link between the gut and brain and Parkinson’s. Maskot/Getty Images
  • The exact cause of Parkinson’s is unclear, but experts believe that genetic changes and environmental factors, such as toxins, play a role in increasing a person’s risk of developing the condition.
  • More recently, studies have shown that the gut could play a major role in the development of Parkinson’s.
  • A new study has suggested that damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract may increase Parkinson’s risk by 76%.

According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, a million people in the U.S. are living with Parkinson’s disease, a number that is expected to rise to 1.2 million by 2030. While age is the most significant risk factor for Parkinson’s disease, around 4% of cases are diagnosed in people under the age of 50.

Experts do not know the exact cause of the condition, but some cases are thought to be hereditary, with specific gene variants leading to Parkinson’s disease. However, most cases appear to result from a combination of genetic and environmental factors.

Increasing evidence is pointing to the role of the gut and the gut microbiome in the development of Parkinson’s disease.

Now, a study has found that people with a history of damage to the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract from conditions such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcers, and prolonged use of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (such as ibuprofen), may have a 76% higher risk of Parkinson’s disease than those without.

The study, led by researchers at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC), was published in JAMA Network Open.

Health">Studies have suggested that aggregations of a protein — Health">alpha synuclein — in the brain form Lewy bodies, and lead to the loss of dopaminergic neurons, a key feature of Parkinson’s disease. These alpha-synuclein aggregations have also been detected in the gut.

Daniel Truong, MD, neurologist and medical director of the Truong Neuroscience Institute at MemorialCare Orange Coast Medical Center in Fountain Valley, CA and editor-in-chief of the Journal of Clinical Parkinsonism and Related Disorders, who was not involved in the study, explained to Medical News Today how this study adds further evidence for a link:

“The GI tract is known to produce alpha-synuclein, a protein that plays a key role in Parkinson’s. When the gut lining is damaged, it may lead to chronic inflammation or an impaired ability to clear harmful proteins, which could trigger the misfolding of alpha-synuclein.”

“This study provides additional evidence to support the gut-first hypothesis of Parkinson’s disease. By showing a 76% higher risk of developing [Parkinson’s] in individuals with upper GI mucosal damage, it highlights the potential role of gastrointestinal dysfunction in triggering [Parkinson’s]. The findings align with prior research suggesting that misfolded alpha-synuclein proteins may spread from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve, offering further support for the hypothesis that [Parkinson’s] may originate in the gut.”
— Daniel Truong, MD

“I advise my patients, regardless of their risk of any neurological disease, that minimizing NSAIDs, reducing stress, and cutting down alcohol will only help their gut Health,” Pasricha told MNT.

“I think this study will help physicians pay closer attention to people who have a history of gastrointestinal issues and keep Parkinson’s on the radar for future, especially if they start to develop other prodromal signs of the disease like trouble sleeping, difficulty swallowing, or changes in sense of smell,” she added.

“Our study found that a specific kind of gut pathology, damage to the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract, is linked to developing Parkinson’s disease, elevating the risk by 76%. We live in an environment where lots of factors can damage the lining of our guts: taking NSAIDs like ibuprofen, drinking alcohol, stress, or bacteria like H. pylori, for example. These all play an injurious role.”
— Trisha S. Pasricha

Truong echoed her advice:

“There are several lifestyle measures that may help reduce the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease such as exercise, Healthy diet, avoid toxin (pesticide, heavy metals) […] studies suggest moderate coffee or tea consumption may lower risk.”

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