Central OC Times

A research team from the University of California, Irvine, has made significant progress in understanding the origins of Parkinson's disease. The team, led by Professor Elizabeth Bess from the Department of Chemistry, has discovered that the disease may originate in the human gut.

"Parkinson’s happens when proteins build up in regions of the brain that control body function," said Bess. "When those proteins build up in that part of the brain, it causes the neurons to die, and then people can’t move their body in the way they’d like to."

The study focuses on alpha-synuclein aggregates formed due to waste produced by E. coli bacteria residing in the gut. These protein chunks are believed to travel from the gut to the brain via the vagus nerve.

"There’s evidence that these disease-causing protein clumps can travel from the gut to the brain along the vagus nerve that connects these organs," Bess explained. "So, if you can stop the aggregates from forming in the gut, there’s a chance that the proteins won’t reach the brain and cause Parkinson’s."

In collaboration with Penn State professor Aida Ebrahimi, Bess' team found that a component of coffee might prevent these protein aggregates from forming. "Other studies have shown that drinking coffee decreases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease, and our findings shed light on how this could work," said Bess.

Further research is being conducted with UC Irvine professor Jennifer Prescher to trace these proteins' movement using bioluminescent molecules. "We can track the protein from intestinal cells and see if it goes into neurons," said Bess.

Bess highlighted a novel perspective: "The idea that Parkinson’s disease can start in the gut is a bit weird in terms of typical dogma for thinking about Parkinson’s disease," she noted. "But our research is charting a map for how this is possible."

The study received funding from several sources including NIH's National Institute of Neurological Disease and Stroke.

UC Irvine continues its Brilliant Future campaign aiming to raise awareness and support for various university initiatives including student success and research excellence.