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Appendectomy may delay Parkinson's disease Onset
Alexandre Mendes1,2, Alexandra Gonçalves1,2, Nuno Vila-Chã1,2
1Serviço de Neurologia, Centro Hospitalar do Porto, Porto, Portugal.
Background:
Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) is particularly abundant in the vermiform appendix, which makes this structure an anatomical candidate for the initiation of Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology. We hypothesized that history of appendectomy might affect PD clinical onset.
Methods:
A total of 295 PD patients enrolled in a comprehensive observational study were asked about past history of appendectomy. Cox's regression, with a time-dependent covariate, explored the effects of appendectomy on age at PD onset.
Results:
Thirty-four patients (11.5%) had appendectomy before PD onset. There was no significant effect of appendectomy on age at PD onset for the entire cohort (P = 0.153). However, among patients with late onset (≥55 years), we found evidence that those with past appendectomy had more years of life without PD symptoms than patients without appendectomy (P = 0.040). No association was found for the young-onset group (P = 0.663).
Conclusions:
An apparent relationship was observed between appendectomy and PD onset in the late PD cohort.
Insights
Appendectomy may influence the onset of Parkinson's disease (PD), particularly in late-onset cases. This study suggests a potential link between appendix removal and delayed PD symptom development in older individuals.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Gastroenterology
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Alpha-synuclein (α-Syn) accumulation in the vermiform appendix suggests it as a potential origin for Parkinson's disease (PD) pathology.
- The vermiform appendix's high α-Syn abundance positions it as a key anatomical site for PD initiation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the hypothesis that a history of appendectomy may influence the clinical onset of Parkinson's disease (PD).
Main Methods:
- A cohort of 295 Parkinson's disease (PD) patients was surveyed for appendectomy history.
- Cox's regression analysis with a time-dependent covariate was employed to assess the impact of appendectomy on age at PD onset.
Main Results:
- Appendectomy was reported by 11.5% of PD patients prior to disease onset.
- No significant effect of appendectomy on PD onset age was observed in the overall cohort.
- A significant association was found in late-onset PD patients (≥55 years), where appendectomy correlated with a delay in symptom onset (P=0.040).
- No association was detected in the young-onset PD group (P=0.663).
Conclusions:
- A potential relationship exists between appendectomy and the onset of Parkinson's disease, specifically within the late-onset PD subgroup.
- The findings suggest that appendectomy might be associated with a delayed clinical presentation of Parkinson's disease in older individuals.
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