Parkinson: An investigation revealed that the disease could come from the appendix

Parkinson's disease could come from the depths of the digestive system, according to a new study by American scientists. The research, published in the journal Science Translational Medicine, revealed that people whose appendix had been removed were less likely to develop this neurodegenerative disease.

The appendix, an organ that is still in doubt of utility, has also been shown to be a reservoir of the substance that kills brain cells. According to the nonprofit and support organization Parkinson UK, this discovery represents the most compelling evidence that the origin of the disease can be located outside the brain.

In Parkinson's disease, toxic proteins accumulate in the brain and destroy nerves, particularly those related to movement. While this may seem counterintuitive, it is becoming increasingly clear that the digestive system is linked to the disease.

Researchers at Michigan's Van Andel Research Institute in the United States badyzed information on 1.7 million people over half a century. The badysis revealed that the risk of developing Parkinson's disease was 20% lower in people whose appendix had been removed.

The appendix is ​​a small pocket located at the entrance to the large intestine. It is probably the most well-known vestigial organ (which has no use) of the human body. An badysis of the contents of the appendix showed that it contained the same toxic protein – called alpha synuclein – that is found in the brain of patients with Parkinson's disease.

The appendix is ​​obviously not the only factor to consider in this disease. In this case, removing it would solve the problem. But researchers argue that the digestive system is fertile ground for this protein, which then crosses the vagus nerve up to the brain.

"This research is really important because it provides us with one of the most convincing proofs so far about the fact that Parkinson's disease can develop outside the brain.It is a revolutionary idea which is starting to emerge in the scientific world, "said Claire. Bale, from Parkinson UK.

"Understanding where and how Parkinson's disease was born will be absolutely crucial for the development of treatments that can stop it and possibly prevent it."

The study showed that almost all the people studied had an alpha-synuclein protein in their appendix. And they found differences in protein structure between healthy people and those with Parkinson's disease.

However, research into the origin of Parkinson's disease still does not know why the disease appears in some people and not in others.

Source: BBC World