A recent study suggests that Parkinson's disease, in which parts of the brain are progressively damaged over many years, may actually start in the gut.
Nearly 30% of the gut bacteria in patients with Parkinson's differed from those without the disease, according to British and U.S. researchers.
Study co-author Ayse Demirkan, a senior lecturer at the University of Surrey, noted that death and impairments due to Parkinson's are increasing faster than any other neurological disorder worldwide. Diagnosed cases have more than doubled in the past 25 years.
"This is very concerning as there is no known cure," Demirkan said in a university news release. "However, the more we learn about the causes of the disease, the more informed we can be in developing new treatments and, eventually, a cure."
Parkinson's is a brain disorder that can cause uncontrollable movements such as shaking, limb stiffness, and difficulty with balance and coordination.
Previous research had pointed to a possible link between gut bacteria and the disease, Demirkan said, though those studies were small.
This study recruited 490 people with Parkinson's and 234 neurologically healthy individuals. Each provided a stool sample and information about themselves.
When samples were analyzed, researchers found that bacteria, genes, and biological pathways differed by more than 30% in those with Parkinson's compared to those without the movement disorder.
One example was the bacterial species Bifidobacterium dentium, known to cause infections such as brain abscesses. Levels were seven times higher in folks with Parkinson's, while levels of Roseburia intestinalis, a bacterium found in healthy colons, were 7.5 times lower. Constipation is a recognized symptom of Parkinson's.
A cluster of bacteria known to cause infections — Escherichia coli, Klebsiella pneumonia, and Klebsiella quasipneumoniae — had elevated levels in those with Parkinson's.
"Our current research is not designed to answer whether the bacteria itself is the initial cause of the disease; some may also be a consequence of the disease, or may be even influenced by the genetic makeup of the individual," Demirkan said.
The findings were published in Nature Communications.
A New Health Alert for Older Adults From David Brownstein, M.D.
Supporting Your “Second Brain”
Offers New Hope for Better Immune Health,
Stable Mood, and Overall Well-Being
Dear Friend Over 50,
In family practice, I see many older adults on a daily basis.
And one thing is crystal clear.
As you grow older, your immune system just doesn’t work as well as it used to.
Scientists call it “immune senescence.” This process is actually considered a hallmark of the aging process itself.
Unfortunately, it leaves older folks increasingly susceptible to a variety of health concerns.
David Brownstein, M.D. is a board-certified family physician and one of the foremost holistic practitioners in America. He has had great success in helping his patients resolve numerous health concerns naturally. Dr. Brownstein is the author of 11 health books, and editor of the popular monthly newsletter Natural Way to Health.
That’s why I’m writing today.
To tell you about a research-proven natural health strategy that offers seniors new hope . . .
With support for better immune function, a more stable mood, improved digestion, and overall well-being.
And it’s all connected to an area of your body you might not expect has anything to do with your immune system.
But before we get into this natural solution, it’s important to know how growing older contributes to immune function decline:
But apart from changes to specific cells in your immune system . . .
There’s a key factor associated with the immune decline of aging — and it relates to your gut.
The Immune System and Your “Second Brain”
Did you know you have two brains?
Deep within the walls of your gut lies a network of 100 million nerve cells — more than you have in either your spinal cord or peripheral nervous system.
Scientists call this second brain in your digestive system the enteric nervous system or ENS.
While it can’t balance your checkbook or help you solve a crossword puzzle, your gut’s second brain is extremely powerful.
And these powers extend far beyond merely processing the food you eat.
Here’s why . . .
Scientists have discovered that
around 70% to 80% of your immune system is actually located inside your gut.
This immune system in your digestive tract is designed to “fence off” potential threats from gaining entrance to the rest of your body through your circulation.
And the enteric nervous system inside your gut helps to regulate many of your vital immune functions.
So as you can imagine, supporting your gut’s immune system is vital to maintaining health as you age.
Providing this support means taking care of the defenders that live there.
The “Soldiers” in Your Gut
Your gut is home to about 100 trillion bacteria. So many of them, they weigh 2 or 3 pounds!
And because so many living organisms make a home there, many scientists now consider your gut to be an organ of sorts. They call it the microbial organ — or microbiome.
You’ve probably heard about the beneficial bacteria in your gut — your defending “soldiers.”
For you to remain optimally healthy, about 85% of the bacteria in your gut should be comprised of friendly bacteria, such as Lactobacillus or Bifidobacteria.
The remaining 15% are different kinds of non-beneficial microbes, but their minority status helps keep them in check.
Unfortunately, in many people — especially older folks — this ratio becomes skewed. The non-beneficial bacteria increase in numbers, crowding out your good soldiers.
And since most of your immune system is located in your gut, this does not bode well for your aging immune function.
In fact, research shows that a delicate balance of microbial species is required to maintain healthy immune function. A disturbance in this balance can result in an imbalanced inflammatory response leading to health concerns, even the frailty of old age.
Threats to Your Gut Bacteria
Researchers are becoming more and more aware that microbial balance in the gut becomes increasingly disturbed by the aging process itself.
And not only that . . .
Consider how many toxins we’re exposed to today — especially in our water and food.
More than 80,000 chemicals are currently used in the U.S. today. Most of them have not been adequately tested for their effects on our health. Of course, this includes our gut health.
And there’s the matter of our generally poor diets, low in fiber and high in fat and refined carbohydrates. As a nutritionally-oriented doctor, I consider this a major factor.
These dietary concerns influence the type of gut microbes we have — as well as their ability to function. Because this can negatively modify immune function.
Even certain medications can disrupt the proper balance of your gut microbes. Of particularly importance are medications you know as antibiotics.
Antibiotics and Your Immune Health
According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (the CDC), at least 30% of antibiotic treatments prescribed in the outpatient setting are unnecessary.
Unfortunately, every time a person takes antibiotics, sensitive bacteria are killed. But resistant ones are left to grow and multiply. This means that overuse of antibiotics is a major cause of the epidemic rise in drug-resistant bacteria.
And this antibiotic resistance is of particular concern for older adults, who have a high rate of antibiotic use.
Because antibiotics have a wide range of effects, they also kill off those “friendly” bacteria in the gut, leading to upset in the composition of the intestinal microbes.
Eventually this can lead back to that undesirable imbalanced inflammatory response and immune health concerns.
And if this wasn’t bad enough, what happens in your gut also affects your mood and your overall health.
Your “Second Brain” Influences
Mood and Well‑Being
Contrary to popular opinion, mood changes are not all in your head . . .
Whenever you’ve experienced a “gut feeling” or felt “butterflies in your stomach,” this is your second brain talking to you.
A big part of your emotions are likely influenced by the nerves in your gut, which communicate back and forth with the brain in your skull.
It may surprise you to know that your gut’s enteric nervous system is home to more than 30 neurotransmitters, including serotonin, norepinephrine, epinephrine, and dopamine.
In fact, 95% of your body’s serotonin is found in the bowels.
Serotonin is a chemical responsible for mood control (you’ll often find serotonin regulated by certain antidepressant medications).
Scientists are just beginning to unravel the complexities of the enteric nervous system. They’ve found that the bacteria in your gut may affect not only the gut, but the mind itself.
Emerging research indicates that your gut’s nervous system may influence emotions, response to stress, pain perception, and other aspects of behavior.
According to Johns Hopkins University, the enteric nervous system can trigger big emotional shifts in people coping with digestive health concerns such constipation, bloating, stomach upset, and others.
That’s because irritation in the GI system sends signals to the brain that can trigger these mood changes.
In fact, research suggests that serotonin dysfunction in the GI system can lead to impairments in brain function that involve mood, sleep, and behavior.
This is yet another important reason to keep your gut happy and healthy.
So what’s the best way to do this?
Well, I don’t really recommend commercial yogurts today.
They are loaded with sugar and other additives. Plus, they are often heat processed or pasteurized, which destroys some of their live bacterial cultures.
That’s why I recommend supplementing your diet with probiotics to help balance the bacteria in your gut.
This is especially important for older adults, as you’ve already seen.
Millions of people take probiotics today, but do they really work?
The answer is “yes” — with a caution you’ll see in a moment.
And the science is solid . . .
Multiple clinical trials have found that probiotics can enhance immune function in the elderly.
A 2019 review of research in the Annals of Nutrition and Metabolism also notes that
probiotics help regulate the inflammatory process.
The Harvard Health website reports that probiotics can do more than support the health of your digestive tract. They can enhance mood and cognitive function — and decrease stress and anxious feelings.
And a 2017 review in the journal Gut Microbes considers the use of probiotics a sound nutritional strategy for healthy aging.
However . . .
Despite all these great benefits of probiotics, it’s not a smart idea to go down to your drugstore, grocery store, or discount store and pick up a bottle.
The Real Truth About Many
Probiotic Supplements
Unfortunately, researchers warn that about half of the probiotic products available today do not contain the bacteria listed on the label.
Even those that do may not have the correct mix of bacterial strains to benefit your health.
And low quality products may not be manufactured in the correct way to help the bacteria survive a trip to the supermarket shelf, no less the harsh trip through your acid-laden GI tract.
For this reason, using a high quality probiotic supplement is the
only
way to guarantee maximum health benefits.
Consider Only a High Quality
Probiotic Supplement
To be honest, I was very frustrated with the low quality, ineffective probiotic solutions I found on the market today.
And seeing the need for more abundant probiotic bacteria in the diets of my patients — especially my older patients . . .
I decided to take matters into my own hands and develop my own own advanced formula. A formula with the best mix of proven probiotic strains, based on my two decades of research and patient treatment.
It’s called BACTIPRO®.
Six Powerful Probiotic Strains in
One Chewable, Tasty Wafer
When it comes to probiotics, there’s no “one size fits all.”
So I used a mixture of six proven beneficial bacterial strains in BACTIPRO.
The variety of strains ensures powerful support for immune health, digestive health, and more.
You’ll find strains from both the Bifidobacteria family and the Lactobacillus family, and here’s why:
The two Bifidobacteria strains in BACTIPRO primarily work in the
large
intestine to help detoxify your colon and support normal elimination.
And the four included Lactobacillus strains in BACTIPRO primarily work in the
small
intestine to assist in digestion and absorption of foods, particularly in absorption of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients your body requires.
And since few people get enough fiber in their diet today . . .
BACTIPRO also includes the breakthrough fiber product Fibersol-2.
With 6 full grams of healthful fiber per daily serving, this helps to support intestinal regularity.
Plus, it provides prebiotics that encourage the growth of even more friendly bacteria.
You can think of prebiotics as “food” to nourish the probiotic microbes.
Plus, in each tasty BACTIPRO wafer, you’ll find a powerful antioxidant blend of 8 fruit-based nutrients, including resveratrol and grape seed extract.
Antioxidants help protect and repair your body’s cells from damage caused by free radicals. It’s particularly important for older individuals to minimize the impact of these free radicals on your body by boosting your antioxidant intake.
BACTIPRO also contains a robust complex of phytonutrients from 26 different fruits and vegetables. These include carotenoids important in immune system health, and flavonoids that help optimize the body’s inflammatory response.
And unlike many cheap and inferior probiotics on the market, BACTIPRO is manufactured under stringent quality controls to ensure the potency and stability of the product and the bacterial strains.
I’m confident in the research behind the ingredients in BACTIPRO — and in the processing and packaging that goes into bringing it directly to you ready to provide you with a source of high-quality probiotic strains.
In fact, I’m so confident that BACTIPRO can help support both your immune and digestive systems, I want to tell you about a special offer I arranged for you.
Claim Your Own Risk-Free Trial Bottle of BACTIPRO
Because BACTIPRO has the powerful potential to help soothe your digestive concerns and enhance your immune health, I’ve made special arrangements for Medix Select to send you a risk-free trial supply at no charge.
This way you can try BACTIPRO for yourself.
That is nearly a $40 value that you can get for just $4.95 to help cover shipping and handling. If you like BACTIPRO, simply do nothing and you will receive it at over 33% off the regular price through our convenient Smart Ship Program — only $26.63 a bottle.
No worries, though, you can easily cancel at any time. Your satisfaction is guaranteed.
I’ll also send you my Doctor’s Guide to Probiotics and Your Health. In this information-packed report, you’ll discover more complete details about probiotics and their many benefits.
Plus, I’ll tell you how to use probiotics effectively when you’ve been prescribed antibiotics. And you’ll see some additional probiotic foods and beverages that can enhance your health.
Just to recap, here are 9 benefits of BACTIPRO:
- Supports a Healthy Immune System
- Promotes Healthy Bowel Function and Regularity
- Provides Balance to Overall Digestive System
- Delivers 6 Full Grams of Healthful Fiber Per Daily Serving
- Fights Aging-Related Reduction of Friendly Gut Bacteria
- Multi-Strain Formula Supports Both Small Intestine and Colon
- Offers Both PREbiotics and PRObiotics in One Tasty Product
- Provides Health-Boosting Antioxidants
- Includes a Phytonutrient Blend of 26 Fruits and Vegetables
Of course, you don’t have to believe me — or all the research that went into the creation of this premium formula.
Claim Your Own Risk-Free Trial Bottle of BACTIPRO
It’s Easy to Support Your Second Brain and
Your Gut’s Immune System
You deserve the peace of mind that you are doing something smart and positive for your immune and digestive health as you grow older.
And now it’s easy, since you can get a trial supply of BACTIPRO to try for yourself.
So why not take this small step to provide your gut, immune system, and overall health the support it needs?
Join me and thousands of happy BACTIPRO users today!
*These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. This product is not intended to diagnose, treat, cure or prevent any disease. Terms and Conditions Apply. Please call or see our website for complete details. All information presented above is for informational purposes only, and is not specifically applicable to any individual’s medical problem(s), concerns, and/or needs. Readers are advised to consult a health professional about any issue regarding their health and well-being. Testimonials appearing above are from actual customers who have used our products in some way or another. Testimonials reflect their experience with our product and are not necessarily representative of all those who will use our product. ©2023 Medix Health, LLC. All rights reserved. Medix Select is a registered trademark of Medix Health, LLC.