Interesting study at UofL - bacteria & PD
 

Thanks for that anagirl.

There is increasing evidence that differences in the kinds of bacteria which normally live in the gut (the "gut microbiome") are causally linked to many neurological issues.

I hope that the University of Louisville study helps in the context of PD.

There is definitely a link between PD and the microbiome. If I were ready for something like this and could join up I would do this study.

These are not the only researchers following this path but being in this study might eventually get you permission (by our friends at the FDA, who now regulate fecal transplants even though they had nothing to do with earlier studies of them, nor an interest in using them as a widespread medical procedure) to have a fecal transplant.

An interesting Finnish study was released in December about microbiomes and PD. It actually lists out some of the differences in bacteria types and makes the connection between movement disorders and bacteria types. Here is the abstract ..
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In the course of Parkinson's disease (PD), the enteric nervous system (ENS) and parasympathetic nerves are amongst the structures earliest and most frequently affected by alpha-synuclein pathology. Accordingly, gastrointestinal dysfunction, in particular constipation, is an important non-motor symptom in PD and often precedes the onset of motor symptoms by years. Recent research has shown that intestinal microbiota interact with the autonomic and central nervous system via diverse pathways including the ENS and vagal nerve. The gut microbiome in PD has not been previously investigated. We compared the fecal microbiomes of 72 PD patients and 72 control subjects by pyrosequencing the V1–V3 regions of the bacterial 16S ribosomal RNA gene. Associations between clinical parameters and microbiota were analyzed using generalized linear models, taking into account potential confounders. On average, the abundance of Prevotellaceae in feces of PD patients was reduced by 77.6% as compared with controls. Relative abundance of Prevotellaceae of 6.5% or less had 86.1% sensitivity and 38.9% specificity for PD. A logistic regression classifier based on the abundance of four bacterial families and the severity of constipation identified PD patients with 66.7% sensitivity and 90.3% specificity. The relative abundance of Enterobacteriaceae was positively associated with the severity of postural instability and gait difficulty. These findings suggest that the intestinal microbiome is altered in PD and is related to motor phenotype. Further studies are warranted to elucidate the temporal and causal relationships between gut microbiota and PD and the suitability of the microbiome as a biomarker. © 2014 International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society
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Here's the link ..
http://www.alphagalileo.org/ViewItem...CultureCode=en

Here's where you can get your own personal micro-biome test done for less than $100 ..
https://www.sciencebasedmedicine.org...s-new-service/

I'm getting mine tested, along with my wife, in time. Right now I'm following on a different treatment path that is showing good results. You can only do one thing at a time and know if it helps or not.

[QUOTE=BreezyRacer;1147412]There is definitely a link between PD and the microbiome. If I were ready for something like this and could join up I would do this study.

Right now I'm following on a different treatment path that is showing good results. You can only do one thing at a time and know if it helps or not.


I don't understand your statement at all. This is not an interventional study, it's just observational. You just have to give some samples. Why would that impact any interventional treatment protocol you may be trying on your own?

[QUOTE=Tupelo3;1147420]

Quote:

Originally Posted by BreezyRacer (Post 1147412) There is definitely a link between PD and the microbiome. If I were ready for something like this and could join up I would do this study.

A fair question, Tupelo. And upon reflection I did call about the study and I might participate if they want me. I might have to have a "drug holiday" to participate, as you often have to in observational studies, but probably not in this case since nothing I am doing is (knowingly) affecting the microbiome. It's a pretty easy drive to Louisville, but I would want a record of my own results from what they find in my microbiome. So we'll see ..

BTW, I am participating in an observational study on RLS at Johns Hopkins so it's not like I don't see value in these studies.

I just finished reading Dr. Perlmutter's new book, Brain Maker, about the influence of the intestinal microbiome on brain health. The book is a pretty elementary introduction to the subject and doesn't mention PD very much except for a mention of Dr. Borody in Australia.

There was also a section on using a DIY probiotic enema with complete instructions. While nor mentioning PD, he does say he has gotten impressive results using it. It might be worth a try.

Thanks for the book review Gerry. I had been kicking around getting that book. The BIG thing with fecal transplants is the donor source. That is why a donator from OpenBiome would be, by far, the best choice, if you could get it.

Believe it or not, I've actually offered to be a donor twice. My digestive system is pretty active and by most measures I have seemed to be a pretty healthy guy. However, had I gone thru with it I might have given someone PD .. who knows? I imagine that you heard the case of the daughter that was donor to the mother and then she wound up gaining 30 lbs. So who is a healthy donor, really? I would get the microbiome studied before I use it. That's affordable right now and it also compares the bacterial makeup to averages.

There is a LOT about the microbiome that we don't yet know .. not that the FDA, who now controls the process, is even trying to understand.

Yes, I read a report too on fecal transplants which used the example of the woman who put on weight as a negative for the treatment. While understanding the distress it gives her, I think it possibly points to another conclusion: the original bacterial composition was poor at energy extraction, and this was replaced by something more efficient, which shows the power of the approach.

John

The probiotic enema is not a fecal transplant, lest there be any confusion. It's taking an oral probiotic rectally delivered as an enema.

interesting Gerry .. Does Dr Pearlmutter indicate what probiotics he prefers to use, or any guidance on probiotic selection?

I had confused it with enemas done with filtered fecal bacteria.