Interview with Drs. Vaughn and Staley in Physicians Weekly
Exploring the Relationship Between Lewy Body Disease and the Intestinal Microbiome
Lewy Body Disease (LBD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease. Pathologically, LBD is characterized by immunopositive α-synuclein aggregations in the form of Lewy bodies. Given this context, improving our understanding of what triggers α-synuclein aggregation, and promotes disease progression, is crucial. Gastrointestinal concerns (e.g. constipation) are an independent early clinical pre-motor/cognitive dysfunction feature of LBD, which places the gut and thus microbiome at the center of Lewy body research.