I appreciate how you have outlined the interplay between genetic risk, environmental toxins, and lifestyle in Parkinson’s, which is something we encounter consistently in both research and lived experience. From my perspective, it’s now clear the gut-brain axis and the state of the microbiome must be added into this conversation, especially given how environmental exposures like pesticides and heavy metals not only increase risk, but actively shape the microbiome’s influence on inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Thank you for your comment Martha! Excellent point. You are right, I completely left out microbes from the conversation. Would you mind sending me your favorite study (or two) on the association between our microbiome and Parkinson's?
The seminal research that launch my search in to the microbiome is from Dr. Filip Scheperjans of Helsinki University. He has gone on to publish a large body of research in the Parkinson's microbiome. You can find some of it here on PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Filip+Scheperjans. He will be attending my upcoming meeting "Stripping the Canvas Bare: A New Synthesis in Parkinson's" which I am hosting at Stout's Island Lodge May 20-22 in Birchwood, Wisconsin.
Excited to follow your future work, Matt. Always great to run into a scientist!
Likewise!
I appreciate how you have outlined the interplay between genetic risk, environmental toxins, and lifestyle in Parkinson’s, which is something we encounter consistently in both research and lived experience. From my perspective, it’s now clear the gut-brain axis and the state of the microbiome must be added into this conversation, especially given how environmental exposures like pesticides and heavy metals not only increase risk, but actively shape the microbiome’s influence on inflammation and neurodegeneration.
Thank you for your comment Martha! Excellent point. You are right, I completely left out microbes from the conversation. Would you mind sending me your favorite study (or two) on the association between our microbiome and Parkinson's?
Of course!
https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s12017-024-08799-w
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41467-023-38248-4.pdf
Thank you!
The seminal research that launch my search in to the microbiome is from Dr. Filip Scheperjans of Helsinki University. He has gone on to publish a large body of research in the Parkinson's microbiome. You can find some of it here on PubMed https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/?term=Filip+Scheperjans. He will be attending my upcoming meeting "Stripping the Canvas Bare: A New Synthesis in Parkinson's" which I am hosting at Stout's Island Lodge May 20-22 in Birchwood, Wisconsin.
I’m interested about the impact of diet and exercise on Parkinson’s and other neurological degenerative diseases. Thanks for the post!