Can your gut predict Parkinson’s? Microbiome changes may be an early sign

• A new study suggests that gut health may be linked to Parkinson’s disease.
• Researchers found that changes in the gut microbiome may appear years before symptoms develop.
• The scientists say this could help identify people at higher risk earlier and be used to advise prevention strategies.

Gut health has become an area of increasing interest to researchers over the years. So far, scientists have linked it to digestion, inflammation, and even mental health.

More research is coming out that suggests there is a strong connection between gut health and the brain. Researchers from University College London examined the connection between gut health and Parkinson’s disease.

They found an association between the gut microbiome and Parkinson’s disease risk. While more research is needed, the findings suggest that shifts in gut bacteria may be an important early signal to watch in understanding and identifying the disease.

The study is published in Nature Medicine.