Scientists in California say they have transformed understanding of Parkinsons disease.
Their animal experiments, published in the journal Cell, suggest the brain disorder may be caused by bacteria living in the gut.
The findings could eventually lead to new ways of treating the disease, such as drugs to kill gut bugs or probiotics.
Experts said the results opened an exciting new avenue of study.
In Parkinsons disease the brain is progressively damaged, leading to patients experiencing a tremor and difficulty moving.
Researchers used mice genetically programmed to develop Parkinsons as they produced very high levels of the protein alpha-synuclein, which is associated with damage in the brains of Parkinsons patients.
But only those animals with bacteria in their stomachs developed symptoms. Sterile mice remained healthy.
Further tests showed transplanting bacteria from Parkinsons patients to mice led to more symptoms than bacteria taken from healthy people.
Dr Timothy Sampson, one of the researchers at the California Institute of Technology, said: This was the eureka moment, the mice were genetically identical, the only difference was the presence or absence of gut microbiota.
Now we were quite confident that gut bacteria regulate, and are even required for, the symptoms of Parkinsons disease.
The scientists believe the bacteria are releasing chemicals that over-activate parts of the brain, leading to damage.
The bacteria can break down fibre into short-chain fatty acids. It is thought an imbalance in these chemicals triggers the immune cells in the brain to cause damage.
Dr Sarkis Mazmanian said: We have discovered for the first time a biological link between the gut microbiome and Parkinsons disease.
More generally, this research reveals that a neurodegenerative disease may have its origins in the gut and not only in the brain as had been previously thought.
The discovery that changes in the microbiome may be involved in Parkinsons disease is a paradigm shift and opens entirely new possibilities for treating patients.
Parkinsons is currently incurable.
While the findings need to be confirmed in people, but the researchers hope that drugs that work in the digestive system or even probiotics may become new therapies for the disease.
The trillions of bacteria that live in the gut are hugely important to health, so wiping them out completely is not an option.
Dr Arthur Roach, from the charity Parkinsons UK, said: In recent years, evidence has been growing that Parkinsons may begin in the gut, but the chain of events involved has so far remained a mystery.
This work opens an exciting new avenue of study on the gut-brain connection in Parkinsons.
There are still many questions to answer, but we hope this will trigger more research that will ultimately revolutionise treatment options for Parkinsons.
Dr Patrick Lewis, from the University of Reading, said: This study really does reinforce the idea that examining what goes on in the stomach of people with Parkinsons could provide really important insights into what happens in disease, and potentially a new area of biology to target in trying to slow down or halt the changes in the brain.
Follow James on Twitter.
Read the original:
Parkinson's disease 'may start in gut' - Gears Of Biz
- Tango Parkinson's Therapy (Washington U. in St. Louis) - May 7th, 2011 [May 7th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Treatment-Exercise Program-Part 2 of 4 - May 14th, 2011 [May 14th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Stem Cell Treatment - Part 2 - May 21st, 2011 [May 21st, 2011]
- Deep Brain Stimulation treatment for Parkinson's disease - May 22nd, 2011 [May 22nd, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Treatment-Exercise Program-Part 4 of 4 - May 24th, 2011 [May 24th, 2011]
- James, Parkinson's disease, after stem cell treatment at Tiantan Puhua Hospital Beijing - May 30th, 2011 [May 30th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Stem Cell Treatment - Part 1 - May 30th, 2011 [May 30th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Treatment -- Mayo Clinic - June 2nd, 2011 [June 2nd, 2011]
- When should I start treatment if I have Parkinson's Disease? - June 3rd, 2011 [June 3rd, 2011]
- parkinson-treatment-with-cupping-4.flv - June 3rd, 2011 [June 3rd, 2011]
- New treatment options for Parkinson's Disease feat. Nashville Predators coach Brent Peterson - June 8th, 2011 [June 8th, 2011]
- Speech Treatment in Parkinson disease: Sharon Kha's Story - June 8th, 2011 [June 8th, 2011]
- How you can help cure Parkinson's - June 9th, 2011 [June 9th, 2011]
- TV9 - LADIES CLUB : "PARKINSON DISEASE" - CAUSE, SYMPTOMS - June 9th, 2011 [June 9th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Treatment: Case #1 - June 12th, 2011 [June 12th, 2011]
- parkinsons cure - June 17th, 2011 [June 17th, 2011]
- A Parkinson Patient Finds their Miracle. FCR Treatment helps Parkinson's Disease. - July 3rd, 2011 [July 3rd, 2011]
- Parkinson's Treatment: Case #2 - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- TMJ Treatment Helping with Parkinson's Symptoms Dr. Gary Demerjian Burbank, California - July 15th, 2011 [July 15th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Treatment at Ta'ir Laser Center testimonial - July 16th, 2011 [July 16th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease client pre and post treatment - July 17th, 2011 [July 17th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Diagnosis, Causes and Treatment. Part 2 - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Diagnosis, Causes and Treatment part4 - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- Glutathione for Parkinson's Disease. Learn why it helps symtoms - July 18th, 2011 [July 18th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease: Diagnosis, Causes and Treatment. - July 19th, 2011 [July 19th, 2011]
- parkinson-treatment-with-cupping-1.flv - July 20th, 2011 [July 20th, 2011]
- 7.30 - a treatment for Parkinson's Disease can cause problem gambling - July 27th, 2011 [July 27th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Symptoms Improve with Non-Surgical TMJ Treatment: Dr. Gary Demerjian - July 29th, 2011 [July 29th, 2011]
- Werth Parkinson Centre, Daniella - Treatment - August 4th, 2011 [August 4th, 2011]
- 6.30 - Parkinson's treatment - August 19th, 2011 [August 19th, 2011]
- MDTV: New Drug Treatments for Parkinson's Disease - September 10th, 2011 [September 10th, 2011]
- Pakistan Parkinson's Disease patient Treatment, in chennai Surgery hospital - DINAMALAR - September 23rd, 2011 [September 23rd, 2011]
- Parkinson's treatment gives life back - October 2nd, 2011 [October 2nd, 2011]
- Parkinson Doctor Sarasota Discusses Parkinson's Disease Treatments - Video - October 15th, 2011 [October 15th, 2011]
- New treatments for Parkinson's disease - pt 1 - Video - October 16th, 2011 [October 16th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Treatment - Year and a Half Later... - Video - October 19th, 2011 [October 19th, 2011]
- Still Life: The Search for a Parkinson's Cure - Video - October 22nd, 2011 [October 22nd, 2011]
- Can Exercise Treat Parkinson's? - Video - October 30th, 2011 [October 30th, 2011]
- Parkinsons Treatments | Symptoms Parkinsons - Video - November 2nd, 2011 [November 2nd, 2011]
- Symptoms - November 3rd, 2011 [November 3rd, 2011]
- Revolutionary Treatment for Parkinson's - Video - November 4th, 2011 [November 4th, 2011]
- Herbal Treatment for Parkinsons disease and recovery - Video - November 7th, 2011 [November 7th, 2011]
- Early Diagnosis and Treatment of Parkinson's Disease - Video - November 10th, 2011 [November 10th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Treatment (part 1 of 4) at Penn Medicine - Video - November 15th, 2011 [November 15th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Disease Treatment - Video - November 18th, 2011 [November 18th, 2011]
- MDTV: Parkinson's Disease: Treating Off Times - Video - November 20th, 2011 [November 20th, 2011]
- parkinson-treatment-with-hijamah-therapy.3gp - Video - November 24th, 2011 [November 24th, 2011]
- parkinson-treatment-with-cupping-2.flv - Video - December 3rd, 2011 [December 3rd, 2011]
- Parkinsons Antioxident treatment before with Dr. Offutt.MOV - Video - December 7th, 2011 [December 7th, 2011]
- Teva Presenting Data on MS and Parkinson's Disease Treatments - Video - December 7th, 2011 [December 7th, 2011]
- LSVT® LOUD Treatment Benefits Parkinson's Disease Patient -- Hendricks Regional Health - Video - December 14th, 2011 [December 14th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Cure - Dating - Video - December 21st, 2011 [December 21st, 2011]
- Parkinson's Treatment part-2 - Video - December 29th, 2011 [December 29th, 2011]
- Parkinson's Treatment - Video - January 1st, 2012 [January 1st, 2012]
- Parkinson's Treatment - Deep Brain Stimulation - Video - January 2nd, 2012 [January 2nd, 2012]
- Parkinson's cure with out medicine - Video - January 10th, 2012 [January 10th, 2012]
- Parkinson's Disease and The Argentine Tango - Video - January 11th, 2012 [January 11th, 2012]
- Parkinson treatment shows positive results in clinical testing - Video - January 15th, 2012 [January 15th, 2012]
- Parkinson's Disease Treatment - Patient Testimony "Lad" - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- Parkinson - Video - January 27th, 2012 [January 27th, 2012]
- parkinson-treatment-with-cupping-3.flv - Video - January 28th, 2012 [January 28th, 2012]
- Parkinson's Disease: Balance, Gait (Walk) and Tremors Improve with New Non-Surgical Treatment Part 2 - Video - January 29th, 2012 [January 29th, 2012]
- Researchers visualize the development of Parkinson's cells - January 31st, 2012 [January 31st, 2012]
- NPH diagnosis in San Tan Valley man returns him to normal life - January 31st, 2012 [January 31st, 2012]
- Laser targeting could help fight Parkinson's - February 1st, 2012 [February 1st, 2012]
- Study of live human neurons reveals Parkinson's origins - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- Lauren Sciences LLC awarded MJFF grant to develop a V-SmartTM therapeutic for Parkinson's disease - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- "Biochemistry", Advances in Parkinson's Disease Treatment - Video - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- Parkinson's Disease Symptoms Improve with Non-Surgical TMJ Treatment: Part 2 - Video - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- Treatment of Parkinson's Disease Symptoms - Video - February 7th, 2012 [February 7th, 2012]
- Parkinson Disease - Surgical Treatment - Video - February 8th, 2012 [February 8th, 2012]
- MediGait Announces: GaitAid Device for Parkinson's Disease Shows Significant Step-initiation Improvement in New Trial ... - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Tai Chi Makes Parkinson’s Patients Steadier on Feet, Study Says - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Cleveland Clinic Joins 23andMe in the Search for Genetic Clues to Parkinson's Disease - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Cleveland Clinic to Recruit Parkinson's Patients for 23andMe - February 14th, 2012 [February 14th, 2012]
- Fairhope Parkinson's patient enters film in contest to awareness of disease - February 15th, 2012 [February 15th, 2012]
- Tai Chi may help Parkinson's patients regain balance - February 16th, 2012 [February 16th, 2012]
- Weight Training May Help Parkinson's Patients Retain Function - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- Parkinson's Disease and Exercise: How Much Is Beneficial? - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]
- Study shows exercise may help Parkinson's patients - February 17th, 2012 [February 17th, 2012]