Bacteria in the digestive tract may indicate Parkinson's risk years before symptoms appear
2026-04-22 14:26:09
TiranaPost
Scientists have discovered that certain changes in gut bacteria can help identify people at risk of developing Parkinson's disease, many years before symptoms appear.
According to a study conducted by University College London (UCL), both Parkinson's patients and people with a genetic predisposition exhibit specific patterns of the gut microbiome, unlike healthy people.
The researchers analyzed data from 271 Parkinson's patients, 43 people with a high-risk genetic variant, and 150 healthy people in the United Kingdom and Italy. The results showed that over 25% of the types of gut bacteria differed between the groups.
According to the researchers, these changes may serve as an early warning sign of the disease, even before clinical symptoms appear.
Parkinson's is one of the most common neurodegenerative diseases and is characterized by the gradual loss of dopamine-producing neurons. By the time of diagnosis, more than half of these cells have already been damaged.
The researchers emphasize that early detection is essential for developing more effective treatments in the future. They suggest that gut microbiome analysis could be used to identify people at risk and recommend preventive measures, such as dietary changes.
However, experts emphasize that further research is needed to fully understand the role of genetic and environmental factors in the development of the disease.
