Journal of Probiotics & Health
Open Access
ISSN: 2329-8901
ISSN: 2329-8901
Department of Neurology, University of Iowa, Iowa, United States of America
Review Article
The Role of the Gastrointestinal System in the Progression of Parkinson?s Disease: A Novel Approach to Elongating Patient Time in Pre-motor Parkinson?s Disease
Author(s): Ariana Katz*
Parkinson’s Disease (PD) is the second most prevalent neurodegenerative disease affecting every 150 out of 100,000 individuals worldwide. PD is characterized by a resting tremor, rigidity and bradykinesia; all displaying asymmetry. Most cases of clinical PD are caused by the degradation of dopaminergic neurons in the midbrain, specifically in the substantia nigra. Death of dopaminergic neurons in this region has been linked to increased oxidative stress and free radical damage. Evidence also supports dopaminergic neuron death caused by a deficiency in mitochondrial complex I which decreases energy production in the substantia nigra of the brain. Other studies have shown that nigral cell death accompanied with gliosis is exacerbated in dopaminergic neurons due to abnormal calcium ion handling. Degradation of dopaminergic neurons is initiated by the formation of protein aggregates.. View More»