Gut-Brain Axis Theory of PD

Authors

Affiliations

Nate Yomogida, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.S. in Kinesiology

Chloë Kerstein, B.S., SPT

Doctor of Physical Therapy

B.A. in Neuroscience

Braak’s Hypothesis

1. α-syn is produced in the periphery¹
2. α-syn proagates to the CNS¹
3. α-syn in the CNS causes the disease¹

Movement of α-syn to the CNS

Furthermore, it was observed that vagal nerve sections prevented the intestine-to-brain propagation of fibrils and neurodegeneration [11]. Thus, the vagus nerve seems to serve as the conduit for α-syn propagation from the gut to the CNS¹

References

1.

Montalbán-Rodríguez A, Abalo R, López-Gómez L. From the Gut to the Brain: The Role of Enteric Glial Cells and Their Involvement in the Pathogenesis of Parkinson’s Disease. International Journal of Molecular Sciences. 2024;25(2):1294. doi:10.3390/ijms25021294