Scientists from the University of Alabama at Birmingham have confirmed that intestinal dysbiosis is common in patients with Parkinson’s disease. The research was published in the journal Nature Communication.
It is estimated that Parkinson’s disease will affect approximately nine million people by 2030. There are several known mechanisms associated with its formation. Although the disease is thought to be a movement disorder, it affects several body systems and its earliest manifestation is a tendency to constipation, which often develops decades before the onset of movement symptoms.
The study included 490 patients with Parkinson’s disease and 234 healthy participants without neurological disease. The mean age of the participants was 66, and 90% were over 50 years old.
The participants suffered from multiple bowel problems, with constipation six times more common in the Parkinson’s disease group and intestinal discomfort three times more common. Alcohol and food consumption was 40% lower in this group. Patients were also four times more likely to use laxatives and twice as likely to use antidepressants and insomnia medications.
Interestingly, Parkinson’s patients were 40% less likely to use probiotics. However, common types of probiotics lactobacillus and bifidobacteria It was more common in patients with Parkinson’s disease than in healthy individuals. Microbiota analysis showed that the number of opportunistic microorganisms in patients was excessive. About 36% of the species associated with Parkinson’s disease have changed their numbers at least twice. 62 species have been associated with Parkinson’s disease, most of which have been associated with the induction of inflammation, which contributes significantly to the mechanism of development of Parkinson’s disease.
Source: Gazeta
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