A new study shows that damage to part of the intestine can put you at high risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
The study, published in JAMA Network Open, discovered that damage to the upper gastrointestinal tract was associated with a 75% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease in the future.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative disorder that primarily affects the nerve cells needed for movement. Therefore, the main symptoms of the disease affect physical movement such as tremors, slowness and muscle stiffness.
As part of the study, a team investigated the relationship between damage to the lining of the upper digestive tract and Parkinson’s disease.
They analyzed 9,350 patients with no history of Parkinson’s disease who underwent upper gastrointestinal endoscopy with biopsy. The damage was classified as erosions, ulcers, or acid-induced injuries.
The team followed the patients for about 15 years. Among the patients with mucosal damage, 52 were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, or 2.2% of this group.
Among the patients without mucosal damage, 48 were diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, or only 0.5% of this group.
In addition, patients with mucosal damage were more likely to be infected with stomach bacteria, use medications to treat stomach acidity, or chronically use non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs.
They were more likely to have gastroesophageal reflux disease, smoking, constipation or dysphagia.
Many Parkinson’s patients experience symptoms such as dysphagia or constipation years before they are diagnosed, said study leader Trisha Pasricha, of Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center in Boston.
But she said her study showed for the first time that a history of mucosal damage in the upper gastrointestinal tract was associated with a 76% increased risk of developing Parkinson’s disease.
Source: Express
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2024-10-07 05:51:04
