Connection between the cecum and Parkinson’s disease risk

Lower Parkinson’s risk, after Appendix removal

A study has shown that people, which was removed decades ago, the cecum, have a lower Parkinson’s disease risk. German experts suggest, however, that the investigation has not demonstrated causality (cause-and-effect relationship), and there is, therefore, for appendicitis surgery for Parkinson’s disease-prophylaxis no reason.

In case of doubt, it is decided for an Operation

In the case of an appendicitis (appendicitis) often have nonspecific symptoms. Because the diagnosis is usually time-consuming and ultrasound, physical examination, and blood count revealed only a suspicion, choose a physician if there are signs of inflammation in case of doubt prefer for Operation. People, where decades ago the Appendix was removed, according to a study by American researchers to a lower Parkinson’s disease risk. As a Parkinson’s disease-prophylaxis for SURGERY should not be carried out yet.

Study can demonstrate causality

In a in the journal “Science Translational Medicine” published a study showed that people, where decades ago the worm form of the intestine (cecum) was removed, have a lower Parkinson’s disease risk.

However, the survey is able to demonstrate as Association study, no causality (cause-and-effect relationship). For appendicitis surgery for Parkinson’s disease-prophylaxis, therefore, there is no occasion.

However, the study provides new approaches for the development of future Biomarker and therapeutic approaches.

Thus, you could well be a milestone in the fight against Parkinson’s disease, a disease with increasing incidence, not least due to the demographic development.

The German society for neurology (DGN) notes in a recent message.

Disease sets in later

According to the DGN is discussed as a cause of Parkinson’s disease, the deposition of the Protein Alpha-Synuclein in nerve cells.

There are so-called Lewy bodies form in nerve cells, which mainly consist of deposits of this Protein and to the death of brain cells.

In two large epidemiological studies (“Swedish National Patient Registry, and The Parkinson’s Progression Marker Initiative”), it could be shown that people, where decades ago the Appendix was removed, have a lower Parkinson’s disease risk.

A total of almost 1.7 million people were enrolled in 1964 in these surveys, 551.647 the Appendix had been removed. Of those who had no appendage more diseased 644 Parkinson’s disease, which corresponded to a Rate of 1.6 cases per 100,000 patients.

In contrast, the incidence rate was higher in the group of those who live with the Appendix, with only 1.98 per 100,000 people is significantly higher.

In addition, the study showed that the Parkinson’s diagnosis was made in those who had undergone 20 years or even more before a surgical removal of the vermiform, Appendix removal, 1.6 years later than in the Non-Operated.

The Appendectomy (the Appendectomy) was associated with a later Onset of Parkinson’s disease.

In the blind intestinal disease triggering Alpha is accumulated-Synuclein

The study authors found that also in the Appendix vermiformis disease triggering Alpha-Synuclein accumulates, both in healthy people and in Parkinson’s patients. This finding has been shown in independent studies for the entire rectum.

The hypothesis of Heiko Braak, an influential German Neuroanatomist, States that this pathological Alpha immigrates Synuclein via the Vagus nerve into the brain and causes the disease.

The conclusion of the present study was, therefore, that the Appendix could play a possible role in the development of Parkinson’s disease.

In the case of people suffering from Parkinson’s double the amount of Monomeric Alpha was found in the study-Synuclein in the Appendix as in the case of the healthy study participants.

In addition, it was striking that patients with Parkinson’s disease showed a four-fold increase in levels of a truncated Form of Alpha-Synuclein in the Appendix.

Precautionary Appendix operation?

To draw “the conclusion, all people as a precautionary measure, to append ektomieren, not would be premature, and health to be represented politically,” said Professor Dr. Dr. h. C. Günther Deuschl, Kiel, Germany.

“The difference between the groups was in the study of 0.38 cases per 100,000 people (1,6 vs. 1,98 Affected per 100,000). That means that you have to operate a 250,000 – 300,000 people as a precautionary measure, in order to save possibly at the end of a patient, the diagnosis of Parkinson’s disease“, explains the expert.

If you can spare a human the Parkinson’s diagnosis is also uncertain, because the study was only an Association study, which showed that the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease was in people who had undergone an Appendix removal, lower.

However, the study provides no scientific proof that the reverse is true, that by an Operation of a Parkinson’s disease be prevented or delayed.

This prospective, randomized, controlled, intervention studies need to be carried out, but in view of the then required the case to be unrealistic.

Prospects for improved diagnosis and therapy

Prof. Deuschl assessed in the present study, nevertheless, highly instructive.

“It opens up prospects for improved diagnosis and therapy and thus an exciting, broad field of research,” says the expert.

“We may be able to find with the help of these findings, new Biomarker, such as, for example, certain Alpha-Synuclein aggregates in the worm, which may be able to tell a Parkinson’s disease before. Similar has also been suggested for colon biopsies already,“ says Deuschl.

“It is also important to investigate whether such aggregates could represent future therapeutic targets. In this respect, this study could represent a milestone in the fight against Parkinson’s.“ (ad)