Little-known gut condition could reveal Alzheimer’s years before symptoms appear, experts discover
The key to detecting common neurodegenerative disorders like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease could lie in the gut rather than the brain, new research suggests.
Researchers found those who suffered common digestive problems including vitamin deficiencies and bowel inflammation were more likely to suffer the distressing memory issues associated with Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Research has long shown that inflammation in the gut can trigger a host of health complications—including problems with brain activity.
Now, experts from the Center for Alzheimer’s and Related Dementias, have explored the impact of various digestive and metabolic conditions such as diabetes on Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s—which cause cognitive decline due to the death of nerve cells in the brain.
Alzheimer’s is the leading cause of dementia, and while not yet curable, early diagnosis is considered critical for better outcomes as treatments can combat symptoms and slow down progression.
Writing in the journal Science Advances, the researchers said: ‘Understanding the connection between disorders of the gut-brain axis and neurodegeneration can provide useful insights into therapeutic interventions, with major implications for prevention and disease.’
In the study, experts conducted the largest biobank analysis to date to assess how disorders affecting the gut-brain connection influence the risk of Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
The researchers identified 155 diagnoses related to gut and metabolic disorders and found that a number of nutritional, and digestive system-related issues are linked with an increased risk of Alzheimer’s and/or Parkinson’s.
Research has long suggested that activity in the gut can impact the brain. Researchers have now found people with certain digestive issues are more likely to develop Alzheimer’s and/or Parkinson’s in later life
Symptoms of Parkinson’s include uncontrollable tremors, slow movements and muscle stiffness. Thinking and memory changes including becoming more forgetful can also occur
Notably, they found that people suffering from irritable bowel diseases (IBD)—like Crohn’s disease or ulcerative colitis—acid reflux, diabetes, or irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) were more likely to develop Alzheimer’s later in life.
Similarly, with regards to Parkinson’s, those with digestive issues like IBS, pancreatic hormone problems—such as those seen in diabetes—or who were vitamin B deficient, were found to have a higher risk of developing the disease.
According to separate analysis from the Parkinson’s Foundation, digestive issues are one of the most common symptoms in Parkinson’s, with constipation affecting up to 70 per cent of patients.
This symptom, experts say, often begins before the onset of tell-tale movement delays and other early signs of the disease.
The researchers of the current study concluded that these risk factors could appear up to 15 years before the onset of symptoms.
They added: ‘The ability to predict risk with high accuracy using these biomarkers highlights the potential for early detection, personalised medicine and better-targeted interventions.’
However, the researchers noted that co-concurring diagnoses for conditions that influence the gut-brain connection does not seem to influence the predictability of Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s as much as other variables such as genetics.
It comes as studies show Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s are on the rise—with more than 400million people worldwide thought to be affected.
Over 980,000 people in the UK are currently thought to be living with the memory-robbing disorder. But Alzheimer’s Society predict this number to rise to 1.4million by 2040 due to an ageing population
Recent analysis by the Alzheimer’s Society estimated the overall cost of dementia to the UK is £42billion a year, with families bearing the brunt.
Currently, around 153,000 people are thought to be living with Parkinson’s in the UK alone, but experts predict this figure will rise to 172,000 by 2030.
And around 982,000 people in the UK are thought to be living with dementia, but more than a third of people with the debilitating condition do not have a diagnoses.
The staggering rise is thought to be partly due to an ageing population—which could see these costs soar to £90 billion in the next 15 years.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s include uncontrollable tremors, slow movements and muscles stiffness. Thinking and memory changes, including becoming more forgetful can also occur.
Memory problems, difficulties with thinking and reasoning and language problems are also common early symptoms of Alzheimer’s, which then worsen over time.
Analysis by Alzheimer’s Research UK found 74,261 people died from dementia in 2022, making it the country’s biggest killer.
