Scientists find link between Parkinson's and gut bacteria

New Delhi: In a breakthrough research, scientists from US have managed to find a functional association between Parkinson's disease and gut bacteria.

Parkinson's disease is a central nervous system disorder that restricts movement and affects up to 10 million people globally.

The study showed that changes in the composition of gut bacterial populations could affect motor skills.

The researchers hypothesised that gut bacteria may contribute to Parkinson's as 75 per cent with the disease have gastrointestinal abnormalities, primarily constipation which often precede the disease.

For the study, the team used two groups of mice genetically programmed to overproduce alpha-synuclein -- protein associated with damage in the brains of Parkinson's patients.