Researchers In Helsinki May Have Made An Honest-to-Goodness Breakthrough In Parkinson's Research

From YLE - Finnish Broadcasting Company, May 6:

Helsinki University makes Parkinson's disease breakthrough

Researchers say certain strains of gut bacteria are the likely cause of Parkinson's disease.

Scientists at the University of Helsinki on Friday said they had demonstrated that certain strains of Desulfovibrio bacteria are probable causes (siirryt toiseen palveluun) of Parkinson's disease in most cases.

This finding enables screening carriers of Desulfovibrio strains and subsequently removing the bacteria from the gut. This may make it possible to prevent Parkinson's disease.

"Our findings are significant, as the cause of Parkinson's disease has gone unknown despite attempts to identify it throughout the last two centuries. The findings indicate that specific strains of Desulfovibrio bacteria are likely to cause Parkinson's disease," professor Per Saris said in a statement.

Only a fraction of Parkinson's disease cases are caused by genetic factors, according to Saris....

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I don't know if it's enough for a Nobel but it might be worth a nomination: "Dear Karolinska Nobel Assembly...."