Parkinson’s disease tagged posts

An image of tissue from a human colon uses fluorescent staining to show the presence of the protein alpha-synuclein (red) inside gut endocrine cells (green).
Credit: 2017, JCI Insight

Protein linked to Parkinson’s could spread from gut to nervous system. Recent research on Parkinson’s disease has focused on the gut-brain connection, examining patients’ gut bacteria, and even how severing the vagus nerve connecting the stomach and brain might protect some people from the debilitating disease. Duke University researchers have identified a potential new mechanism in both mice and human endocrine cells that populate the small intestines...

Parkinson’s disease and Parkinson’s disease medications have distinct signatures of the gut microbiome. Movement Disorders, 2017; DOI: 10.1002/mds.26942

A new study from researchers at the University of Alabama at Birmingham shows that Parkinson’s disease, and medications to treat Parkinson’s, have distinct effects on the composition of the trillions of bacteria that make up the gut microbiome. At this point, researchers do not know which comes first. Does having Parkinson’s cause changes in an individual’s gut microbiome, or are changes in the microbiome a predictor or early warning sign of Parkinson’s? What is known is that the first signs of Parkinson’s often arise as gastrointestinal symptoms such as inflammation or constipation.

“The human gut hosts tens of trillions of microorganisms...

Highlights •Gut microbes promote α-synuclein-mediated motor deficits and brain pathology •Depletion of gut bacteria reduces microglia activation •SCFAs modulate microglia and enhance PD pathophysiology •Human gut microbiota from PD patients induce enhanced motor dysfunction in mice

Gut microbes may play a critical role in the development of Parkinson’s-like movement disorders in genetically predisposed mice, researchers report December 1 in Cell. Antibiotic treatment reduced motor deficits and molecular hallmarks of Parkinson’s disease in a mouse model, whereas transplantation of gut microbes from patients with Parkinson’s disease exacerbated symptoms in these mice...

Highlights •Mitochondrial dysfunction and defective mitophagy shown in A-T animal models •A-T laboratory animal models exhibit NAD+ depletion and impaired SIRT1 activity •NAD+ replenishment improves lifespan and healthspan in ATM− worms and mice •NAD+ ameliorates A-T phenotypes through upregulation of mitophagy and DNA repair

The coenzyme NAD+ plays a main role in aging processes. In mice and roundworm adding the substance can both extend life and postpone the onset of aging processes. New research conducted at the Center for Healthy Aging and the American National Institute of Health shows that this new knowledge will eventually be able to help patients with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.

An international team of researchers from the Center for Healthy Aging at the Univers...