A bacterium greatest identified for inflicting tooth decay has been linked to Parkinson’s illness, in what researchers name the primary research to point out a direct microbial pathway driving the situation.
The research, printed this month in Nature Communications, was 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 function.
The group 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 known as UrdA, which generates a compound referred to as imidazole propionate. That metabolite, the authors confirmed, can journey to the mind and injury 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 danger.
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’s, notably in relation to cognitive decline. That research, nevertheless, was observational and centered 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 identified with parkinsonism daily. The chance of creating parkinsonism usually will increase with age. Nearly eight out of 10 individuals are identified after the age of 65.