Parkinson's disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder. It affects an estimated 8.5 million people worldwide; And is primarily characterized by tremors, stiffness, and loss of balance.
The study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex found that those with a history of damage to the lining of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract were 76 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's.
Trisha S., a neurogastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in the US. Pasricha said science still hasn't fully figured out how the gut impacts the brain.
Parkinson's patients "experience GI symptoms like constipation and nausea for years," he said, decades before specific motor symptoms like difficulty walking or tremors develop.
To explore the "gut-first hypothesis," the team conducted a retrospective cohort study involving more than 10,000 patients who underwent upper endoscopy (EGD), of the stomach and small intestine, in 2000 and 2005.
After more than 14 years, patients who had injuries to the lining of the upper GI tract, also known as mucosal damage, had a 76 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
The study highlights the need for intensive monitoring of these patients as it may open new avenues for early intervention and treatment strategies.
Pasricha said understanding the relationship between mucosal damage and Parkinson's disease pathology may be important for early identification of risk as well as exploring potential interventions.
The study published in the journal Cerebral Cortex found that those with a history of damage to the lining of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract were 76 percent more likely to develop Parkinson's.
Trisha S., a neurogastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in the US. Pasricha said science still hasn't fully figured out how the gut impacts the brain.
Parkinson's patients "experience GI symptoms like constipation and nausea for years," he said, decades before specific motor symptoms like difficulty walking or tremors develop.
To explore the "gut-first hypothesis," the team conducted a retrospective cohort study involving more than 10,000 patients who underwent upper endoscopy (EGD), of the stomach and small intestine, in 2000 and 2005.
After more than 14 years, patients who had injuries to the lining of the upper GI tract, also known as mucosal damage, had a 76 percent higher risk of developing Parkinson's disease.
The study highlights the need for intensive monitoring of these patients as it may open new avenues for early intervention and treatment strategies.
Pasricha said understanding the relationship between mucosal damage and Parkinson's disease pathology may be important for early identification of risk as well as exploring potential interventions.
