A bacterium finest identified for inflicting tooth decay has been linked to Parkinson’s illness, in what researchers name the primary research to indicate a direct microbial pathway driving the situation.
The research, revealed this month in Nature Communicationswas led by researchers in South Korea at POSTECH and Sungkyunkwan College, with collaborators from Seoul Nationwide College. It discovered that Streptococcus mutans — usually discovered within the mouth — was current within the intestine microbiome of individuals with Parkinson’s illness and appeared to play a central position.
The workforce analyzed stool samples from practically 500 sufferers with Parkinson’s and 234 wholesome controls, making a high-resolution profile of the intestine microbiome.
They found that S. mutans produces an enzyme referred to as UrdA, which generates a compound generally known as imidazole propionate. That metabolite, the authors confirmed, can journey to the mind and harm dopamine-producing neurons — a trademark of Parkinson’s.
When researchers launched S. mutans or the metabolite into mice, the animals developed motor issues and mind modifications resembling these seen in Parkinson’s illness.
The findings recommend, for the primary time, a direct “intestine–mind” microbial mechanism for the neurodegenerative dysfunction, and lift questions on whether or not oral well being might affect neurological illness threat.
Different latest analysis
Simply months earlier, on June 9, a separate research led by King’s Faculty London reported that mouth and intestine micro organism have been linked to mind modifications in Parkinson’ssignificantly in relation to cognitive decline. That research, nevertheless, was observational and targeted on associations seen in MRI scans — with out figuring out a particular microbial pathway.
Collectively, the 2 research spotlight a rising recognition of the oral–intestine–mind axis in Parkinson’s illness.
On common, 38 folks in Canada are recognized with parkinsonism each day. The chance of growing parkinsonism typically will increase with age. Virtually eight out of 10 individuals are recognized after the age of 65.
