I am unable to attach the articles, but please check out the latest research on the probiotic Bacillus subtilis. The study published in the journal, Cell Reports, describe how a particular probiotic bacterium may have the ability to prevent the abnormal accumulation of the alpha-synuclein protein associated with the neurological damage seen in Parkinsons. From tests done on a roundworm(!), the bacterium was found to be significantly effective in not only inhibiting alpha-synuclein aggregation but also reversing pre-formed accumulations.
The good news is that the probiotic is already commercially available although the researchers stress that the results on the roundworm (!) do not suggest that Parkinson's patients immediately go out and hunt down the Bacillus subtilis, BUT COMMON SENSE ASKS WHY NOT INDEED (when there are no negatives, and even if it doesn't work, we end up with a healthy gut!!)??
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Poss
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@laglag, I wonder if you might be experiencing worse PD symptoms as a by-product of the bacterial overhaul set in motion when billions of new and different bacteria are introduced into an environment that has an established microbiome. The presence of 'newcomers' is bound to change the environment, and that change disrupts the overall 'balance of power' previously created and maintained by incumbent bacteria. The new, changed environment isn't what the incumbents need any more, so a big proportion of them simply dies.
A big bacterial die-off like that, happening nearly all at once, disturbs a lot of things, not only in the gut, but throughout the body via the blood supply. Since the body's blood simply dumps off whatever waste it was given to ferry back to the intestines, and picks up whatever it finds there when it shows up to be loaded, it may end up unavoidably carrying cell 'trash' and and debris from the millions or billions of newly-dead bacterial cells. What a monumental mess for the gut's clean-up crew, on top of their regular functions!
On top of that, we now know that bacteria in the gut's microbiome actually influence many (or most?) body systems by way of substances they excrete as a natural result of being alive. These substances (called metabolites) become part of what the blood supply delivers to every cell in the body, all the time, and the cells get used to receiving it and using it in their internal processes.
Then suddenly along comes the new crowd of probiotic bacteria, causing a big die-off of the bacteria that made the familiar metabolites 'cocktail' the cells are used to getting. And not only are the cells NOT getting the usual metabolites cocktail they're set up to use for their processes, they're now ALSO getting a NEW mix of DIFFERENT metabolites from the new bacteria.
So cells have to adjust their internal processes to TWO big changes at the same time, while ALSO carrying out their regular functions. That's like doing all your regular work while your building gets major renovations, and then helping the construction crews too. Do you see how the first couple of weeks (or months?) of a transition this big might overload your system and make PD symptoms worse?
Still, all renovations get completed sometime. Eventually all the cell waste and debris from the dead bacteria gets cleared away. The 'new' bacteria establish a new normal. Body cells adapt to the metabolites now brought by the blood supply, making their processes work better than before. And when cells work better, so do organs, and body processes, and whole-body systems.
Finally everything settles into a new and better 'balamce of power' , maintained by the probiotic bacteria now in the majority. But a major whole-body transition of this depth and scale requires whatever time and energy gets the job done, and the process can involve some transitory interim states that aren't pretty and don't feel good.
Everybody responds to tings differently, and I don't know your details, but if we found ourselves waiting for the same train, sitting in a cafe sipping coffee, this is what I'd probably say in response to your question. (Don't worry, I'd pick up the check too!!) ;^)
DISCLAIMERS: Please bear in mind, laglag, that these are only my personal thoughts of what may (or may not) be going on for you. The story I told and the scenarios I wrote here are greatly simplified, and may not actually give a true picture of any of the interactions, processes, and/or sequences I refer to. I have been diagnosed with PD and try to keep myself informed, but I'm not a doctor nor a medical practitioner, professional, or technician of any kind. What I've written here is purely in the nature of a casual and non-professional conversation among PwP of good will who seek only to offer and receive personal support along the Parkinson's road.
You have my good wishes for your health and well-being .
Thanks for taking the time to explain your thoughts. I have tried different probiotics and they all seem to bother me. I often thought maybe it's destroying the wrong bacteria or stirring things up. Do you think I should try what Poss is talking about or just stay away from probiotics? The one I tried last time really bothered me.
Can anyone educate me as to what the pxn 21 means, as in Bacillus subtilis pxn 21? Are there different types of Bacillus subtilis and the pxn 21 variety is the right one?
Yeah, as I understand it Bacillus subtilis is the species and pxn 21 is the subspecies (or substrain?). And from what I've read about probiotics, the particular strain can make a real difference.
Of course there may be quite a few other probiotic species with similar potential for PD. They just haven't been tested. (And this one was tested in worms... so it's still early. But it's a low risk thing, so...)
One other that may have promise is described in this old post of mine:
This is a very interesting post. I've been off this forum lately, but just a few days ago I found a few new references to this and another study, so I thought that I would pop on here and see if any of you were talking about Bacillus subtilis, and sure enough here you are!
I'm adding a few links (which I don't think are duplicates of what has already been posted here:
This first one might be the most important one on this list. This is PD specific, although it's a small study: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/193...
If you'd rather not take pills, B. subtilis is produced during the making of a traditional Japanese dish called "natto". Here's how to make your own: youtube.com/watch?v=2JbWqRN...
To answer my own question: yes, PXN21 info comes from the original study, which mentions it as the specific strain used by them. However, this is in the summary: "Multiple B. subtilis strains trigger the protective effect via both spores and vegetative cells, partly due to a biofilm formation in the gut of the worms and the release of bacterial metabolites."
I'v done a lot of reading over the past few days, and I've been remembering a few things that I've seen on this and other forums. Some things have popped out at me and I feel that they may be all inter-related. It doesn't seem like a coincidence that B subtilis has a positive effect on so many PD symptoms.
It's been shown that toenail fungus is more prevalent in PwP. One of the things that B subtilis is used for is curing fungi. Recent studies have suggested that fungi might be a "causitive agent" of PD: ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/286...
Constipation. This study says that B subtilis might help fix this too: nutraingredients-usa.com/Ar.... Last year I participated in a study of a medicine that was trying to reduce α-synuclein mis-folding. One thing they were looking for was an improvement in constipation. It worked for me, so I believe that it's not a coincidence that B subtilis might also cure the constipation symptom of PD.
PD has an inflammation component. One of the culprits causing system-wide inflammation is staphylococcus. This study found that Staphylococcus aureus (the same strain that attacks the brain) was found over 3 times as often in PwP's eyes (eyes are closely connected to the brain): ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/193... . While this study shows that B subtilis kills off Staphylococci: sciencedaily.com/releases/2...
Finally, this one's a little bit of a stretch, but there are quite a few people who contracted Lyme Disease and PD at about the same time. I contracted LD and had been taking strong antibiotics for 6 months before seeing my first PD symptom. About a year later I contracted toenail fungus for the first time. Did the antibiotics kill off my B subtilis, thereby weakening my immune system, allowing fungi and Staphylococcus aureus to get started? Is the over-production of α-synuclei just the immune system trying to combat these things without sufficient B subtilis? A bit of a stretch but maybe, maybe not.
This could explain why α-synuclei is reduced with the application of B subtilis (in worms); the immune system may no longer need the α-synuclei to fight off these infections. It could also partly explain why PD has increased so quickly since the advent of more and more powerful antibiotics. Of course, even if correct, there are undoubtedly other causes as well.
Wow! Had a very difficult staph (MRSA) infection followed by several different regimens of anti-biotics. Not long afterwards PD kicked in. Also, had and continue to have a fungal infection in a toenail (never had such prior). Always thought the MRSA had something to do with the cause of this disease. You could be on to something here.
I can only agree with many comments above, but we need a large scale, full blown test. Lot's of suspects, lots of remedies not enough research. European Parkinson Therapy Centre along with European Parkinson Training Centre and the Istituto Biomedico Italia and Centro Italiano Richerche Neurologiche Avanzata (CIRNA) and Oxford Brookes Uni looking at a unique approach.
Testing Parkinson scale ,
Testing gut bacteria,
Hydro colon detox,
Reimplanting good bacteria and training people what to eat (for one week all meals prepared by us. Then
Testing Parkinson scale
Testing gut bacteria.
In our pre clinical trial we saw massive improvements. The chinese call the intestine the second brain. Maybe we need to be brainwashed!
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Could a probiotic prevent or reverse Parkinson's?
