New research has uncovered a potential link between digestive issues and the development of Parkinson's disease. While previous studies have hinted at a connection between gastrointestinal health and conditions like Alzheimer's and strokes, this recent study published online in Gut journal, puts focus on the relationship between specific gut disorders and the risk of Parkinson's disease.
Gut conditions as predictors of Parkinson's disease
The study has provided strong evidence suggesting that certain gut conditions might serve as indicators of future Parkinson's disease development. By analysing medical records from the US medical record network (TriNetX) of over 24,000 individuals with Parkinson's, 19,000 with Alzheimer's, and almost 24,000 with cerebrovascular disease, researchers aimed to identify potential associations between gut health and Parkinson's.
To assess the connection, researchers compared the frequency of gastrointestinal issues in the six years leading up to a Parkinson's diagnosis, matching patients across different conditions for factors like age, sex, race, ethnicity, and time since diagnosis. Additionally, the medical records of individuals diagnosed with 18 different gut conditions were monitored over five years to track the occurrence of Parkinson's or other neurological disorders.
The unveiled patterns and considerations
The study's findings highlighted specific gut conditions that could indicate an increased risk of developing Parkinson's disease. Individuals experiencing constipation, difficulty in swallowing, and gastroparesis (a condition causing delayed stomach-emptying), were more than twice as likely to be diagnosed with Parkinson's within the five years before their diagnosis. Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) without diarrhoea was linked to a 17% higher risk.
Some gastrointestinal symptoms, such as functional dyspepsia, IBS with diarrhoea, and diarrhoea coupled with faecal incontinence, were not only more prevalent in Parkinson's patients but also appeared before the onset of Alzheimer's disease, strokes, and aneurysms. However, not all gut issues showed a connection to Parkinson's disease, inflammatory bowel disease did not increase the likelihood of development. Noteworthy was the observation that individuals who had their appendix removed appeared to have a reduced risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
Implications and future prospects
The researchers stressed the importance of heightened awareness regarding gut issues in individuals at a higher risk of Parkinson's disease. This discovery could potentially lead to early detection and treatment strategies that target the gut, potentially slowing or even halting the progression of the condition. While these findings are promising, experts emphasise the need for caution. The study's observations are based on correlations and do not establish causation. There remains a possibility that both gastrointestinal conditions and Parkinson's disease are connected through an unidentified third risk factor.
