Link between gut bacteria and MSA?

[5456partner]

Hi, my husband suffers from MSA, diagnosed 14 months ago, but looking back has had symptoms for some years. We've been reading a book by Giulia Enders called Gut, and in it she mentions research into a connection between the gut bacteria Helicobacter Pylori and Parkinson's and other neurological diseases. My husband was very ill from Helicobacter Pylori in 2017, lost a lot of weight and strength and has never fully recovered. We're now wondering if this bacteria had contributed to the onset of his MSA, he was fit and well before that time. Just wondering if anyone else has had similar experience of this? We see his specialist again on 12th of Feb, so will see what he thinks.would be interested to see what others think. There seems to have been a lot of papers written about this link when I Google it, but I either can't see the full articles or they're too scientific for me to fully understand.

[Monkeyfeet1]

I’ve read that book! Personally, I don’t think there’s a link between my gut health and my brain. Keep searching! Xx

[5456partner in reply to Monkeyfeet1]

Thanks for your reply. We're not really looking for answers as to why my husband has MSA, but we're just struck by this possible link and wondered if any other sufferers had had H.Pylori? I think there is a lot of evidence that our but health affects most of the rest of our bidy, including our brain etc etc

[Monkeyfeet1 in reply to 5456partner]

I think you’re correct any underlying illness could cause this condition but neurologists won’t agree! It’s really difficult when you’ve been fit and healthy and have eaten and drank well. I wish you luck with your search. Keep us updated xXx

[TK-67]

my mum hadn’t had any illness at all prior to her initial Parkinson’s diagnosis, very normal diet and lifestyle. Everyone we spoke to while she was unwell didn’t think there was any connection. Hopefully at some point in the future more research will be done into MSA and we may have more answers. Sadly with many rare diseases it’s very hard to every get the level of research needed for those answers. The challenge too is that MSA gives such a different set of symptoms in individuals so treatment is focused around that.

[Goldendoodle8]

I have looked at this too as my husband has had gut problems for years (Barrett’s, hiatus hernia , chronic reflux etc) despite eating a good organic balanced diet & taking PPI’s.

It would be interesting to see how many other sufferers of MSA have had gut problems, it would be good to find a link…. & perhaps a cure 🙏

[GHG_]

Hi Partner. I definitely wouldn't rule it out. I didn't have Helicobacter Pylori, as far as I know, but I did have constant inflamation in my stomach. I know on one occasion my level of inflamation was 75% erosive bleeding gastritis. I was moved up from 20mg of omeprazole to 40 mg of Omeprazole every day and have been on that for 25 years at least. There are too many scientists and doctors that believe there is a connection between the stomach and the brain for there not to be some basis for concern. Even if we don't yet fully understand it, don't let anyone definitely tell you there is no connection. The Second Brain issue is being seriously worked on. Probably in 50 years they will look back and say, why did they not understand it, the evidence has been there for years. I hope your husband's diagnosis is wrong, or if i's right I hope he, and you, are learing to cope with it.

Best of luck

Graham

[5456partner in reply to GHG_]

Thanks Graham. Sorry for late reply, been a bit out of it for a weekend or so.