Researchers in Finland have discovered the cause of Parkinson’s disease.
The breakthrough could help them find a cure for the condition which affects 153,000 people in the UK alone.
The research found that the majority of cases are likely caused by a strain of gut bacteria called Desulfovibrio, can be detected and removed to prevent the disease.
Professor Per Saris at the University of Helsinki said: “Our findings are significant, as the cause of Parkinson’s disease has gone unknown despite attempts to identify it throughout the last two centuries.
“The findings indicate that specific strains of Desulfovibrio bacteria are likely to cause Parkinson’s disease.
“The disease is primarily caused by environmental factors, that is, environmental exposure to the Desulfovibrio bacterial strains that cause Parkinson’s disease.
“Only a small share, or roughly 10 per cent, of Parkinson’s disease is caused by individual genes.”
The researchers used a type of worm as their model organism for the study.
They found that in patients with Parkinson’s disease the bacteria strain caused a statistically-significant accumulation of the synuclein protein, primarily found in the brain and spinal cord.
The researcher team believes that the findings could help to cure or prevent Parkinson’s disease in patients.
Professor Saris added: “Our findings make it possible to screen for the carriers of these harmful Desulfovibrio bacteria.
“Consequently, they can be targeted by measures to remove these strains from the gut, potentially alleviating and slowing the symptoms of patients with Parkinson’s disease.”
