Oral bacteria in the gut linked to Parkinson’s: New study uncovers alarming brain

Daijiworld Media Network - New Delhi

New Delhi, Sep 24: In a groundbreaking study, scientists have discovered that oral bacteria, once established in the gut, can influence brain function and potentially trigger Parkinson’s disease. The research, conducted by a team at Pohang University of Science and Technology in South Korea, reveals how specific microbial metabolites produced in the gut may directly contribute to the development of this debilitating neurological disorder.

Published in Nature Communications, the study found a significantly higher presence of Streptococcus mutans—a common oral bacterium known for causing dental cavities—in the gut microbiomes of Parkinson’s patients. This bacterium produces an enzyme called urocanate reductase (UrdA) and a metabolite known as imidazole