logo
Gut bacteria changes could be ‘warning sign for worsening Parkinson's symptoms'

Gut bacteria changes could be ‘warning sign for worsening Parkinson's symptoms'

Independenta day ago

Changes in specific bacteria in the mouth and gut of patients with Parkinson's disease could potentially be an early warning sign that symptoms of the condition are getting worse, a study suggests.
With the help of artificial intelligence (AI), scientists have linked these shifts to cognitive decline – problems with memory and learning – in people with the disease.
They suggest the toxins could one day be used as 'markers' for medics to pinpoint the Parkinson's patients at a higher risk of dementia, as well as being used to help develop targeted treatments for the disease.
Parkinson's disease is a progressive condition that affects the brain, with symptoms including involuntary shaking, known as tremors, as well as psychological problems such as depression, loss of balance, trouble sleeping and memory issues.
According to the Alzheimer's Society, around a third of people with Parkinson's eventually develop dementia.
Dr Saeed Shoaie, group leader of the quantitative systems biology (QTS) lab at King's College London, said: 'The human gut and oral bacterial communities are increasingly linked to neurodegenerative diseases.
'Disruptions in the gut-brain axis could trigger inflammation and immune responses that contribute to neuronal damage.
'A common gum disease bacterium like porphyromonas gingivalis has been discovered as a potential driver of Alzheimer's.'
For the study, led by experts at King's College London and published in the journal Gut Microbes, scientists analysed 228 spit and stool samples.
The samples came from 41 patients with Parkinson's and mild cognitive impairment, which causes problems with thinking and memory, 47 patients with Parkinson's and dementia and 26 healthy patients.
The team found that the gut of people with mild cognitive impairment contained more harmful bacteria, many of which are likely to have come from the mouth.
This bacteria releases toxins that can damage gut tissue, promote inflammation and potentially affect the brain, according to researchers.
For a more in-depth analysis, the team used AI to pinpoint the bacterial species and functions not usually picked up by traditional testing, allowing them to link toxins specifically to cognitive decline.
Dr Shoaie added: 'The emerging evidence underscores the potential importance of maintaining oral and gut health in mitigating or slowing neurodegenerative processes.
'As people with Parkinson's become increasingly reliant on carers, routine practices such as oral hygiene and nutritional intake may be neglected.
'Our findings suggest that promoting a healthy microbiome through consistent oral care, a balanced diet and potentially targeted probiotic interventions could support improved disease management in Parkinson's.'
Dr Frederick Clasen, research associate at the QTS lab, said: 'We don't yet know if the bacteria are causing the cognitive decline or if changes in the body due to Parkinson's allow these bacteria to grow.
'But our findings suggest they may play an active role in worsening symptoms.'
Dr Clasen suggests these markers could one day be used to develop targeted treatments.
'These toxins could be used as biological markers to identify patients at higher risk of dementia in Parkinson's,' he said.
'In the future, they might also be targets for new treatments that protect the brain by changing the gut environment.'

Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

More testing needed for genetic cancer risk as too many women ‘missed', experts say
More testing needed for genetic cancer risk as too many women ‘missed', experts say

The Independent

timean hour ago

  • The Independent

More testing needed for genetic cancer risk as too many women ‘missed', experts say

A new study has revealed that families of some cancer patients are being denied the opportunity to learn about their potential cancer risk due to inconsistencies in genetic testing. Academics have warned that the absence of adequate testing for Lynch syndrome is leaving some cancer patients unaware of their risk of developing other cancers. Lynch syndrome, a rare hereditary condition, elevates the risk of cancers of the bowel, womb, and ovaries. It arises from a gene mutation affecting DNA error correction during replication, potentially leading to uncontrolled cell growth. NHS guidelines stipulate that patients with bowel or womb cancer should undergo tumour assessments for Lynch syndrome markers. The identification of these markers should prompt a referral for genetic testing, confirming the diagnosis and enabling access to support and guidance regarding cancer risks for both the patients and their families. A new study by academics at the University of Edinburgh found not all womb cancer patients are being sent for genetic testing. Researchers examined data on 2,500 womb cancer patients across the UK and Ireland between 2022 and 2023. They found that 91 per cent of tumours were tested for markers of Lynch syndrome, but the test results were not routinely communicated to the wider clinical team. This means that follow-up genetic counselling and blood tests were not always arranged. Of the 181 participants eligible for genetic counselling, just under two-thirds (64 per cent) were referred for appointments, according to the study, which has been published in the journal BMJ Oncology. Researchers said those who were referred faced long waits, resulting in high dropout rates, meaning only 48 per cent of those eligible went on to get the test. Experts from the university said gaps in testing mean some womb cancer patients with Lynch syndrome go undetected. Family members are also left vulnerable to cancer risk, unaware they may have the condition. Dr Neil Ryan, from the University of Edinburgh, who leads the UK audit and research collaborative in obstetrics and gynaecology, said: 'Despite clear guidance and excellent rates of tumour testing, too many women with Lynch syndrome are still being missed because they're not referred for definitive blood testing in a timely way. 'This not only denies them the chance to reduce their future cancer risk but also prevents their relatives from being tested and protected. 'Tumour testing is only cost-effective if it leads to diagnosis — we urgently need to make mainstream testing truly mainstream.'

I found love again in my husband's dementia care home
I found love again in my husband's dementia care home

Telegraph

timean hour ago

  • Telegraph

I found love again in my husband's dementia care home

At the end of the meal, John asked 'can I email you?' – and from then on we wrote to each other frequently. I'd tell him I'd seen Bonnie that day, and that I'd taken her for a coffee when I visited James. Bonnie soon became very comfortable in my company, even seeking me out when I came to visit James. We actually looked similar – care home staff thought we were sisters! In fact, when at times Bonnie would refuse personal care from the carers, she'd allow me to do it instead. Meanwhile John came to know James, attracted by the sound of Mozart operas coming from his room. John, I discovered, was as passionate about Beethoven as James was about Mozart. In different times they would have been good friends. Although I knew my relationship with John was changing, as we got to know each other, this was accompanied by a lot of guilt. It also felt surreal being with Bonnie while growing close to her husband. I think the care home manager understood what was happening. 'You must build a new life,' she urged. As our relationship continued, we went out to dinner, the opera, theatre and concerts, as James and I had done – and as John had done with Bonnie. We went on holiday to Greece together, but things didn't go as well as planned. There were four people in the relationship and the guilt remained. How could we truly let go and enjoy ourselves while James and Bonnie were unable to communicate with us on any level? One of the hardest things about Pick's disease is that it is impossible to predict its progress. I was told by the consultant that James could live for anything between one year and 10. In fact he lived for 11 more years, finally succumbing in 2014 aged 68. Six months later Bonnie passed away aged 73. It was a raw time for John and for me, finally losing the great loves of our lives. I returned James's ashes to Northern Ireland where he was born. But some I held back and joined them with Bonnie's in a park in London, a city they both loved. After all, they had lived next door to each other for four years, and all four of us had been on this journey together. This month, I'll be wearing my Alzheimer's Society Forget Me Not Appeal badge for the four of us, as well as the thousands of people whose lives have been affected by dementia. After all the years of heartbreak, I'm pleased to say there is a happy ending. John and I married in a small London ceremony in 2016, after he'd proposed on a flight to India – picking the seventh day of the seventh month because he knows it's my lucky number. Our experience taught us just how cruel and unpredictable life can be, and if there's a chance of happiness in sight, grab it with both hands.

Hospice plans could see 16 bed unit on Norfolk and Suffolk coast
Hospice plans could see 16 bed unit on Norfolk and Suffolk coast

BBC News

timean hour ago

  • BBC News

Hospice plans could see 16 bed unit on Norfolk and Suffolk coast

A hospice charity has submitted plans to develop an end-of-life care facility in a coastal town 18 years after fundraising Hospice Care launched in 2007, changing its name to East Coast Hospice two years later. In 2023 the charity merged with St Elizabeth Hospice, based in charity says it wants to build a community hospice with 16 beds on its site at Sidegate Lane in Gorleston near Great Newman, chief executive of St Elizabeth Hospice, said: "We are delighted to submit this planning application and share our full plans with the wider community." Plans to build a hospice between Lowestoft and Great Yarmouth have stalled for almost two decades as rival charities competed over plans, sites and community was split over supporting the James Paget University Hospital wanting to build a hospice at the Louise Hamilton Cancer Centre, within its site or the independent East Coast Hospice, which had land and won planning consent for a 10-bed the NHS withdrew its plans, East Coast Hospice merged with St Elizabeth which immediately conducted a feasibility study which found a hospice was needed to help patients in Great Yarmouth and said the previous plans were not suitable to the needs identified in its report, and it appointed Norwich-based LSI proposed unit would feature 16 inpatient beds, an outpatient and community hub for day care and therapies as well as a community café. Roberta Lovick, ambassador for the Louise Hamilton Trust, said: "The strength of our partnership will help us achieve our vision of bringing greater parity to end-of-life care in Great Yarmouth and Waveney."When my daughter Louise died in 1998, I vowed to dedicate my life to improving end-of-life care in this community and across the country, and this project, alongside St Elizabeth Hospice, is a significant step toward that goal."This is something we know the community wants and needs. This community hospice building will make a drastic difference to so many people, improving local end-of-life care, giving people more options and support during their precious remaining time with loved ones." Ms Newman added: "We are delighted to submit this planning application and share our full plans with the wider community."With the invaluable support of Roberta Lovick and the Louise Hamilton Trust, we are in a strong position to develop the community hospice sustainably in a single phase."Ed Garratt, chief executive at Norfolk and Waveney ICB (N&W ICB), said: "This is a hugely welcome development, which aligns with our ambitions to enhance palliative and end-of-life care in our region."I wholeheartedly support this shared commitment from the voluntary sector, NHS and community in working together to improve services for the local population." Follow Norfolk news on BBC Sounds, Facebook, Instagram and X.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into the world of global news and events? Download our app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store