A growing body of research suggests that what you eat can play a role in leading to Parkinson’s or even speed up the progression of the disease.
The connection between your gut and Parkinson’s disease is due to your body’s gut-brain axis, a two-way communication system that connects your gastrointestinal tract with your central nervous system (CNS). The gut-brain axis involves pathways that allow for constant communication.
It’s believed that Parkinson’s can begin in the gastrointestinal tract. Changes in gut bacteria and gut permeability — what can pass from the gut and into the bloodstream — may be partly responsible. Research suggests that a lack of healthy bacteria may allow certain proteins to pass from the gut to the brain.
Read on to learn what research indicates.
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The research showed that gut bacteria in this group were affected by diet. The researchers said that a balanced diet leads to a decrease in bacteria that can cause inflammation and an increase in beneficial bacteria that can make short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
SCFAs have been shown to reduce inflammation and strengthen your intestinal barrier — preventing harmful substances from passing into the bloodstream. They may interact with and reduce inflammation in your body’s CNS, including the spinal cord and brain, which could potentially slow Parkinson’s progression.
Beneficial bacteria include:
- Bifidobacterium
- Lactobacillus
- Akkermansia
Conversely, the researchers said, a diet high in sugar led to a decrease in SCFAs. Dietary choices may affect both motor and non-motor symptoms in people with the disease, as well as disease progression.
Gastrointestinal symptoms of Parkinson’s often appear before motor function symptoms and include:
- constipation and difficulty having a bowel movement
- gastroparesis (delayed emptying of the stomach)
- nausea
- bloating
According to the 2024 study, healthier diet consumption with more fiber was associated with a higher amount of the healthy bacteria. Lower-quality diets with higher sugar consumption were associated with more of the unhealthy bacteria.
The researchers suggested that a diet-based intervention for people with a Parkinson’s diagnosis should be part of their treatment plan. They cautioned that dietary changes in people with advanced stages of the disease might be less effective.
The findings are consistent with that of a 2022 study, which also stated that some medications used for Parkinson’s, such as Catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) inhibitors, are effective in part because they increase the healthy bacteria in your gut.
Several studies suggest that fixing gut bacteria imbalances might delay or prevent the onset of Parkinson’s.
According to the Parkinson’s Foundation, increasing fiber consumption is a first step to improve gut health. When gut bacteria break down fiber, they create more SCFAs. They also recommend incorporating plenty of plant-based foods, fruits, and vegetables.
These are the staples of the Mediterranean diet, which is associated with decreased risk of developing Parkinson’s. Additionally, some research has identified potential benefits of the the Mediterranean-DASH Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) diet. The MIND diet emphasizes consumption of leafy greens and berries.
Research suggests that gut bacteria can cause inflammation and allow harmful substances to travel from the gut to the brain, leading to Parkinson’s or speeding up its progression.
Following a healthy diet might be an effective strategy to protect against inflammation in your CNS if you’re at risk for Parkinson’s disease. It might also slow the disease’s growth if you have a diagnosis.
However, more quality research is needed to explore the long-term effects of diet on the gut microbiome and disease progression.