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 whose usefulness is still in doubt, has also proven 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, especially 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 the Van Andel Research Institute in Michigan, USA, analyzed information on 1.7 million people over half a century. The analysis revealed that the risk of developing Parkinson's disease was 20% lower in people whose appendix had been removed.

The annex 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 analysis of the content of the appendix has shown that it contains 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 that comes into play 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 compelling evidence up to the point when Parkinson's disease can develop outside of the brain.It's a revolutionary idea that starts to to emerge in the scientific world, "said Claire Bale of Parkinson UK.

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

The study showed that almost all 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