Diet and Parkinson’s
This blog explores research into gut health, diet and nutrition for Parkinson’s.
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We know that diet is important for general health and that everyone should follow the recommendations for a balanced diet. But why is this an important area of research in Parkinson’s?
In short, it’s because diet and gut health have the potential to play a role in understanding the earliest signs and causes of the condition, could offer a way to better manage symptoms and could even pave the way for clues to slow or stop Parkinson’s.
The gut and possible ways to boost good bacteria
There’s a theory that Parkinson’s may start in the gut and spread to the brain via the intricate network of nerves that connects the brain to the rest of the body. You may have heard this theory referred to as the Braak hypothesis, where a research group back in 2003 hypothesised that changes to the bacteria living in our gut may contribute to the loss of vital dopamine producing brain cells and onset of Parkinson’s symptoms.
Evidence to support this theory is gathering momentum and it’s becoming an increasingly hot topic for research. There are a number of ongoing studies — from looking at the potential of transplanting gut bacteria to using probiotics as a way to boost good bacteria — to improve symptoms or slow the progression of the condition.
Some studies to keep an eye on
Probiotic called Symprove — Research is ongoing to understand if a drinkable probiotic, to boost good gut bacteria, is beneficial to motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. Parkinson’s UK funded researchers at King’s College London are busy collecting this data in 60 people with Parkinson’s. There’s a study underway in Sheffield looking to gather evidence too.
Pinpointing good bacteria — Dr Maria Doitsidou’s team in Edinburgh have found that a bacteria called Bacillus subtilis has the potential to play a protective role in Parkinson’s, after publishing research results looking at worms in the lab. Read more about these results in a previous blog. The researchers now hope to move this further towards clinical trials.
Transplanting gut bacteria — This is the idea of taking a sample of gut bacteria from someone who isn’t diagnosed with a health condition and putting it into the intestines of people with Parkinson’s. It is believed that this could have the potential to quickly alter someone’s gut bacteria, to potentially impact the symptoms and even the progression of the condition. But, the evidence so far has been limited to mouse models of Parkinson’s and a small clinical trial in 15 people with Parkinson’s in China. There are more plans on the horizon, including a study happening in Australia by a biotech company called BiomeBank to gather further evidence on this topic for improving motor and non-motor symptoms of Parkinson’s. You can read more and keep up to date on their website.
Specific diets and Parkinson’s
The internet is bursting with information and advice on diets but sometimes it can be tricky to navigate and understand what evidence backs up the claims. Unfortunately, research evidence is limited when thinking about a specific diet or supplement that might help someone with Parkinson’s. So, before we look at some research that is underway, let’s address some of the main reasons why this area seems so tricky to unpick:
- Parkinson’s is complex. It’s hard to study diet in isolation when so many factors are contributing to the causes and symptoms of the condition, and these will often be unique to the individual.
- Sticking to specialised diets can be hard! Clinical trials asking people to follow a specific diet have limitations as not everyone will follow a diet in the same way or with the same commitment. It is also tricky to have a properly controlled trial, as it is evident to the participants and the researchers who’s following the specialised diet versus who’s in the placebo group.
- Lab based studies are too far removed to form nutritional advice. When studying natural ingredients in the lab they are usually being investigated at much higher concentrations than someone would get from their diet. So, while this research is very interesting scientifically and could provide a route to developing new treatments, it’s usually too far removed to be a direct source of nutritional advice. An example of this is a recent study showing the potential of an ingredient found in fruit.
That being said, there’s still research looking for answers and let’s hope this is an area that gets more attention in the future. Here’s three areas of research to highlight:
Could a high fat diet protect brain cells?
The body is usually powered by a sugar called glucose allowing our cells and organs to function properly. A lot of this energy comes from the body breaking down carbohydrates. Like most things, this process is carefully regulated but sometimes it can result in damaging products being produced and left to cause harm. These damaging side products are thought to contribute to the damage of brain cells in Parkinson’s. So what if brain cells could get energy from an alternative source?
A ketogenic diet is high in fats and low in carbohydrates. In theory it forces the body to switch its usual energy source from glucose (sugar) to ketones — products that are made from the breakdown of fats, which are used to power the brain when glucose is less readily available. It is thought that switching the way the brain is powered may have protective effects.
Evidence so far largely comes from studies conducted in cells in the lab and animal models. But there are also results from an early stage clinical trial in 38 people with Parkinson’s to show a ketogenic diet could help to improve non-motor symptoms, such as thinking and memory. And there is even evidence that this alternative energy source could help boost exercise ability for people with Parkinson’s.
Crucially, more evidence is needed before this diet would be recommended to people with Parkinson’s. Larger, long-term studies are now needed to assess whether this diet is practical, safe and effective.
This blog is not medical advice. Getting the right nutrition is vital but it’s also individual and will depend on a range of factors including your weight, activity levels, any other health issues you have and the medications you take. So it’s really important to speak to your doctor or nurse before making any significant changes.
What’s the evidence for sticking to a Mediterranean diet?
Back in 2008 a study collected and reviewed data from over 1.5 million people to understand how this particular diet might impact life expectancy and incidence of particular health conditions. The results showed that sticking closely to a Mediterranean style diet could be overall beneficial to health and reduce incidence of Parkinson’s.
Mediterranean diets are high in vegetables, fruits, legumes, nuts, beans, cereals, grains, fish, and unsaturated fats such as olive oil. They usually include a low intake of meat and dairy foods.
There’s also evidence that components of a Mediterranean diet may be beneficial to those living with Parkinson’s — as highlighted by an ongoing study that tracks diet and lifestyle with Parkinson’s symptoms. Read on to find out more.
Uncovering more about diet, supplements and lifestyle in Parkinson’s
Research being led by Dr Laurie Mischley at Bastyr University called CAM Care in PD is investigating the influence of diet and lifestyle factors in Parkinson’s by collecting a wide range of data from people across the globe. The aim is to generate evidence based guidance related to diet and lifestyle to improve lives for people living with the condition.
The team aims to track people over a period of five years using online surveys, where participants input every six months, answering questions about medications, diet, supplements, exercise, medication and an array of other factors. At the same time, they are asked to rate the severity and impact of their Parkinson’s symptoms.
You might be interested in finding out more on their website.
This study started in 2012 and is ongoing but back in 2017 did publish some initial results, where some foods seemed to be linked to slower or faster progression. Foods such as fresh fruit and veg, olive oil and herbs seemed to be on the helpful list and fizzy drinks, beef and ice-cream were on the not so helpful. But it is important to note that the data is still being collected and we have already covered why diet research can be tricky to unpick.
The Science of Parkinson’s blog explains the full findings of the study so far in more detail.
