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Parkinson’s may begin in the gut, study says, adding to growing evidence

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Parkinson’s may begin in the gut, study says, adding to growing evidence

The Washington Post,

5 min read
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Learn why researchers now believe Parkinson’s disease might start in the gut.

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New medical research suggests that Parkinson’s disease may originate in the gut — and not in the brain as many researchers believe. According to a new study, damage to the mucous lining of the gastrointestinal tract is associated with a much higher risk of developing Parkinson’s. Science journalist Meeri Kim interviewed study author Subhash Kulkarni in the Washington Post about the main findings and steps health care providers could potentially take to better treat patients suffering from this neurodegenerative disease through early detection.

Summary

New research suggests that mucosal damage to the gastrointestinal lining may significantly increase your likelihood of developing Parkinson’s.

Scientists have long believed that Parkinson’s disease starts in the brain and then spreads throughout the body. New research, however, suggests it may actually originate in the gut. The first person to propose this “gut-first” hypothesis in 2003 was German anatomist Heiko Braak. A new study helps quell existing skepticism among proponents of the more widely accepted “brain-first” hypothesis. Subhash Kulkarni — an assistant professor at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center and an author of the study, published in JAMA Network Open — explains that rather than being a “top-down” disease originating in the brain, Parkinson’s may actually be a “bottom-up” disease, as many patients he and his colleagues observed displayed gastrointestinal (GI) conditions.

Trisha Pasricha, the senior study lead, and her colleagues conducted an analysis of 9,350 people with no Parkinson’s history. Between 2000 and 2005, these 50- to 64-year-old patients had...

About the Author

Meeri Kim is a science writer and Washington Post contributor with a PhD in physics from the University of Pennsylvania.

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