Gut Immune Cells Drive Parkinson's Spread to Brain: New Study Reveals Therapeutic Target

• A new study by University College London researchers reveals how immune cells in the gut facilitate the spread of Parkinson's disease to the brain.
• The research, published in Nature, identifies gut macrophages as key players in transferring toxic alpha-synuclein proteins from the gut to the brain.
• Reducing gut macrophages in mice led to decreased protein spread and improved motor symptoms, suggesting a potential therapeutic strategy.
• Parkinson's is thought to originate in the gut, with symptoms like chronic constipation often appearing decades before motor symptoms.
• Targeting these immune cells could allow for early detection and intervention, potentially slowing or stopping disease progression before brain damage occurs.

Why It Matters: Gut immune cells, specifically macrophages, are crucial in spreading Parkinson's to the brain, offering a new therapeutic target.