Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s have a significant impact on the lives of millions of individuals worldwide. Research conducted at UMass Lowell’s Zuckerberg College of Health Sciences aims to shed light on the role of the gut microbiome in the development and progression of these diseases. Understanding this connection may potentially lead to early detection and the development of innovative treatments.
Led by Associate Professor Natalia Palacios, a recent study focused on individuals diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The study, funded by a $2.1 million grant from the National Institutes of Health (NIH), revealed a decrease in the presence of healthy, anti-inflammatory bacteria among these individuals. This finding highlights the importance of the gut-brain axis, a bidirectional communication system connecting the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system.
To obtain these results, Palacios and her team collaborated with researchers from Harvard University and analyzed the genetic material present in the gut of 420 participants enrolled in two large epidemiological studies—the Nurses’ Health Study and the Health Professionals Follow-Up Study. The study showed a consistent reduction in the abundance of specific types of anti-inflammatory anaerobic bacteria in individuals with Parkinson’s disease. Interestingly, this alteration was also observed in participants who showed early signs of the disease, which can occur years before the manifestation of motor symptoms.
Looking ahead, Palacios plans to further investigate how the gut reflects overall body health. With a new $2 million grant from the NIH, Palacios, along with Professor Katherine Tucker from the biomedical and nutritional sciences department, will conduct a comprehensive study on the microbiome in Latinos. The primary objective is to understand the connection between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s disease. The research will focus on participants from the ongoing Boston Puerto Rican Health Study (BPRHS), an extensive project initiated in 2004 to examine various factors contributing to health disparities among Puerto Rican adults, including stress, social support, diet, health behavior, and genetic predisposition.
Puerto Ricans face significant health and social disparities and have a 50% higher risk of Alzheimer’s disease compared to the general population. Tucker, who serves as the director of the UMass Lowell Center for Population Health, explains that the BPRHS has been conducting cognitive assessments and collecting data on diet and health outcomes for nearly two decades, providing a wealth of information for this new study.
The research team will conduct cognitive assessments, analyze MRI brain scans, and examine blood and stool samples to identify the gut composition in each participant. They will investigate the function of each species of bacteria as well as any potential harmful molecules that could disrupt brain function.
The findings from this study have the potential to revolutionize the field. Over 6 million Americans currently live with Alzheimer’s disease, and this number is projected to increase to 12.7 million by the year 2050, according to the Alzheimer’s Association. Novel biomarkers for Alzheimer’s and improved understanding of the disease’s causes could have a profound impact on the lives of millions of individuals worldwide.
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1. Source: Coherent Market Insights, Public sources, Desk research
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