Withdrawal from the appendix would reduce the risk of developing Parkinson's disease

A study published by Science Translational Medicine reveals that the elimination of the appendix, at an early stage of life, could reduce the risk of developing this disease.

The elimination of the appendix at the very beginning of life reduces from 19 to 25% the risk of developing Parkinson's disease according to the most study vast and most comprehensive realized his type, published this Wednesday in "Science Translational Medicine". (Read: Chilean researchers create a device to eliminate Parkinson's tremors)

The findings also reinforce the role of the gut and the immune system in the genesis of the disease, and reveal that l & # The appendix plays an important role as a reservoir of protein. alpha-synuclein abnormally folded closely related to the onset and progression of Parkinson's disease.

"Our results show that the appendix is ​​the original site of Parkinson's disease and offers a way to design new treatment strategies exploiting the role of the gastrointestinal tract in the development of the disease", explains the lead author of the study, Viviane Labrie, Assistant Professor at the Van Andel Research Institute (VARI), USA.

"Despite its reputation of many useless a, the appendix actually plays an important role in our immune system in regulating the composition of our intestinal bacteria and now, as our work shows , in Parkinson's disease, "he adds.

The appendectomy reduces up to 25% the risk of Parkinson's disease

Reducing the risk of Parkinson's disease n & nbsp; Became evident that when the appendix and alpha-synuclein that it contains were eliminated early in life, years before the onset of Parkinson's disease, this which suggests that the appendix could participate in the onset of the disease. Remove the appendix after the beginning of the pathological process however had no effect on the course of the disease.

In the general population, people with appendicectomy were 19% less likely to develop Parkinson's disease. This effect was amplified in people living in rural areas, with appendectomies leading to a reduction in the incidence of Parkinson's disease. 25% of the risk of illness. Parkinson's disease is often more prevalent in rural populations a trend that has been badociated with increased exposure to pesticides. (You can read: They are designing a drug to treat light-activated Parkinson's disease)

The study also showed that appendectomy can delay the progression of the disease in people who will develop the disease. Parkinson's, thus delaying the diagnosis. an average of 3.6 years. In the absence of definitive evidence of Parkinson's disease, people are often diagnosed after the onset of motor symptoms such as tremors or stiffness. At that time, the pathology is usually quite advanced, with significant lesions in the region of the brain regulating voluntary movement

In contrast, appendectomies have no apparent benefit in individuals whose disease is related to transmitted genetic mutations. by their family, which represents less than 10% of cases. " Our discoveries today add a new layer to our understanding of this incredibly complex disease," says lead author Bryan Killinger, a postdoctoral researcher at the lab. of Labrie.

"We have shown that the appendix is ​​a center for the accumulation of clustered forms of alpha-synuclein proteins, implicated in Parkinson's disease. This knowledge will be of value invaluable when we explore new strategies for prevention and treatment "he adds.

Labrie and his team also found alpha-synuclein groups in the appendages of healthy people of all ages, as well as people with Parkinson's disease, raising new questions about mechanisms that lead to disease and propel its progression. Agglomerated alpha-synuclein is considered an essential feature of Parkinson's disease; previously, it was thought that it was present only in people with the disease.

"We were surprised that the pathogenic forms of alpha-synuclein are so widespread in the appendages of people with and without Parkinson's disease. It appears that these aggregates, although toxic when they are in the brain, are quite normal when they are in the appendix This clearly suggests that its mere presence can not be the cause of the disease, "said Labrie.

"Parkinson's disease is relatively rare, less than 1% of the population, so there must exist another mechanism or other combination of events allowing the appendix to Affect the risk of Parkinson's, what we plan to see next, what factor or what factors tip the balance in favor of Parkinson's disease, "he adds. . (See also: Sex, casino and luxury cars: risks of treatment for Parkinson's disease)

The study data were obtained from a characterization and from a an in-depth visualization of the forms of syn-alpha-alpha in the appendix, which were very similar to those found in the brain of Parkinson's disease, as well as the badysis of two major bases health records data.

The first set of data was obtained from the National Register of Patients. Sweden, a unique database containing unidentified medical diagnoses and surgical history for the Swedish population from 1964, and the Swedish Central Statistical Office, a Swedish government agency.

The VARI team collaborated with Swedish researchers. The University of Lund, Sweden, will review the records of 1,698,000 people followed up to 52 years, or nearly 92 million people a year. The second set of data was from Parkinson's "Progression Marker Initiative" (PPMI) which included detailed information about the patient's diagnosis, age of onset, demographics, and age. genetic information.