A Japanese team has identified microbiota abnormalities characteristic of Lewy body dementia, which affects nearly 250,000 people in France. This allows, in addition to an earlier diagnosis, to consider new therapeutic approaches.
Dr. Fritz Heinrich Lewy had identified, as early as 1912, in the brainstem cells of patients with Parkinson’s disease, particular “inclusions” to which his name was given: Lewy bodies. Then, we found them a few decades later, in a specific form of dementia, which will take the name of Lewy body dementia. This combines movement disorders (as in Parkinson’s disease), a very rapid cognitive decline (Alzheimer’s type) and significant visual hallucinations.
In this dementia, the Lewy bodies, which turn out to be abnormal deposits of a protein called “alpha-synuclein”, were present not only in the brainstem (which explains the movement disorders), but also in the cortex (which explains the disorders of mental functions). For lack of being able to open the brain of the alive patients, only the clinical evolution made it possible to whether or not patients with Parkinson’s disease will progress to dementia with Lewy bodies (DCL).
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Dementia with Lewy bodies, a link with the microbiota
According to previous studies that we have relayed, some intestinal bacteria play a crucial role in the onset of neurodegenerative diseases: thus, we find in the microbiota of patients suffering from Alzheimer’s disease certain inflammation-stimulating bacteria ; conversely, the administration of probiotics (such as Bifidobacterium) seems to improve the cognitive functions (especially memory) of these patients. We also know that in people with dementia Parkinsoncertain dysbioses such as SIBO (Small Intestinal Bacterial Overgrowth) are particularly frequent, once more suggesting a link between the composition of the microbiota and the occurrence of neurodegenerative diseases.
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Diagnosis made easy…
Researchers at the University of Nagoya (Japan) analyzed the stools of 278 patients with alpha-synucleinopathies, of whom 28 presented with dementia with Lewy bodies (LCD), 224 with Parkinson’s disease and 26 with behavioral disorders during of their REM sleep phase.
Their results show that the presence of bacteria Collinsella et Ruminococcus are in the intestine is increased in dementia with Lewy bodies, whereas it is unchanged in Parkinson’s disease. In DCL, bacteria Bifidobacterium were, on the other hand, in less quantity than in the case of Parkinson’s. A single stool analysis for these three bacteria would therefore make it possible to distinguish immediately – and therefore early – patients with DCL.
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… and a hope of treatment
The researchers also found similarities between gut bacteria implicated in Parkinson’s disease and DCL. Thus, in both diseases, the bacterium Akkermansiawhich degrades the intestinal mucosa, was present in large quantities, while anti-inflammatory short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) producing bacteria (e.g. Lactobacillum) were understaffed… As regards SCFAs, we know that these “postbiotics” play an essential role: we recently recalled that butyrate, propionate and acetate, which are among the best-known SCFAs, are able to reduce neuro-inflammation: small enough to cross the intestinal barrier and reach the brain, they would play this fundamental protective role there by contributing to the production of immune cells capable of regulating inflammation. These postbiotics may lead to the development of treatments to curb certain neurodegenerative diseases…
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