Monitoring changes to proteins that live in the gut can identify people who are at a greater risk of neurodegenerative diseases, according to promising new research.
In a major new study – published in the journal Gastroenterology – experts from the University of Aberdeen found that abnormal proteins linked to Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s and motor neurone disease (MND) can be detected in gut tissue seven years before symptoms begin.
These changes could help doctors spot at-risk patients years before they display clear symptoms, providing an opportunity to delay the onset of the diseases with early-intervention strategies and lifestyle changes.
Professor Jenna Gregory, the study’s lead author, said:
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