Parkinson’s disease is a brain disorder that impairs motor function and causes mental disturbances, sleep disorders, pain, and other health issues.
To examine the connection between gut microbial characteristics and Parkinson’s disease, the scientists collected stool samples from patients with Parkinson’s in Japan, the United States, Germany, China, and Taiwan. They employed shotgun sequencing, a method that provides data on long DNA sequences.
It was found that patients with Parkinson’s disease have a deficiency in bacterial genes responsible for the synthesis of riboflavin (vitamin B2) and biotin (vitamin B7) by gut bacteria.
A lack of these substances can lead to the thinning of the intestinal mucosal layer, increasing its permeability. Higher intestinal permeability exposes nerves to toxins and promotes the abnormal accumulation of the protein alpha-synuclein. This protein, found in nerve tissue and some tumors, serves as a primary marker of Parkinson’s disease.
Accumulations of alpha-synuclein activate immune cells in the brain, leading to prolonged inflammation, the researchers concluded.
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