Can the common E.coli bacteria found in the gut cause Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease

needs immediate attention because as per a report by the World Health Organisation (WHO) disability and death due to this disease are increasing rapidly. Parkinson’s disease results in high rates of disability and the need for care. Many people with PD also develop dementia, the WHO report adds.
This makes it extremely important to understand the different risk factors of the disease.

A research team led by

University of California

, Irvine scientists have found an uncommon connection between gut and Parkinson’s disease. They found that “the incurable disorder appears to take root in the human gut.”
The team found that waste produced by E. coli causes protein chunks – called

alpha-synuclein

aggregates – to form. The protein chunks that aggregate in the brain and lead to Parkinson’s appeared to form in the intestine as a result of the well-known E. coli bacteria, which resides in our gut.

The findings of the study have been published in ACS Chemical Neuroscience and in ACS Chemical Biology. “There’s evidence that these disease-causing protein clumps can travel from the gut to the brain along the vagus nerve that connects these organs,” Elizabeth Bess, professor in the Department of Chemistry and the lead researcher behind the work has said as per a report available on the website of University of California.

One of the main reasons why Parkinson’s happens is because of protein buildup in the part of the brain that controls body function. It causes the neurons to die and subsequently the functioning of the body is impaired.

So, if you can stop the aggregates from forming in the gut, there’s a chance that the proteins won’t reach the brain and cause Parkinson’s. And now that we know a way that these protein aggregates form, we can find ways to prevent their formation,” Bess has explained.

Apart from this, what are the known reasons that cause Parkinson’s disease?

Parkinson’s disease is primarily linked to the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the brain, specifically in an area called the substantia nigra, which controls movement. The exact reason for this neuron loss is unknown, but several factors are believed to contribute.
Certain genetic mutations increase the risk of Parkinson’s. Having a family history of the disease slightly raises the likelihood of developing the condition.
Exposure to toxins, such as pesticides, herbicides, and heavy metals, may contribute to nerve cell damage associated with Parkinson’s.
Aging is the most significant risk factor, as the disease typically affects those over 60.
Early detection and medical intervention are the key to manage Parkinson’s disease. It is important to identify the key symptoms associated with Parkinson’s disease. Slow movement, tremor, involuntary movement, rigidity, trouble walking and imbalance. Other symptoms like cognitive impairment, mental health disorders, dementia, sleep disorders, pain and sensory disturbances are also seen during Parkinson’s disease.