Study claims prolonged bowel problems, constipation and nausea could be early signs of Parkinson’s

A recent study found that people who suffer from poor gut health with constipation and nausea over a long period may be at risk of developing Parkinson’s diseaseThe study, published in the journal Cerebral Cortex, shows that the neurological disorder may begin in the gut rather than the brain.

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that affects the nervous system and different parts of the body controlled by the nerves. Symptoms of the disease begin to develop slowly and the initial symptoms are barely noticeable, as they may be just a slight tremor in one hand. Tremors are common, but the disorder can also cause stiffness or slowness of movement.

Mayo Clinic says that in the early stages of Parkinson’s disease, the face may show little or no expression. The arms may not swing when walking. Speech may become soft or slurred. Parkinson’s disease symptoms worsen as the condition progresses over time. The neurodegenerative disorder affects nearly 8.5 million people worldwide.

The study found that a history of damage to the lining of the upper gastrointestinal (GI) tract is 76 percent more likely to develop Parkinson’s.

Trisha S. Pasricha, a neurogastroenterologist at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center (BIDMC) in the United States, said science has not yet fully deciphered how the gut exerts such an outsized influence on the brain. She said that decades before developing typical motor symptoms such as difficulty walking or tremors, Parkinson’s patients “experience gastrointestinal symptoms such as constipation and nausea for years.”

To explore the “gut-first hypothesis,” researchers conducted a retrospective cohort study that included more than 10,000 patients who underwent upper endoscopy (EGD), which is a procedure to image and diagnose problems in the esophagus, stomach, and first portion of the small intestine, between 2000 and 2005.

After more than 14 years, patients who suffered injury to the lining of the upper gastrointestinal tract, also known as mucosal damage, showed a 76 percent increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The study highlights the importance of further monitoring of these patients because it may open new avenues for early intervention and treatment strategies.

Parkinson’s disease symptoms can be different for each person. Early symptoms may be mild and go unnoticed. Symptoms often start on one side of the body and often get worse on that side, even after symptoms begin to affect limbs on both sides.

Pasricha said understanding the link between mucosal damage and Parkinson’s disease pathology may be important for finding early recognition of risk, as well as possible intervention.

(With inputs from IANS)