A Galactose Theory of Parkinson’s Disease

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Abstract
I present a complete theory of Parkinson’s disease (PD). PD involves an abundance of gut microbiota that degrade mucin, resulting in elevated brain uptake of galactose (a mucin component) and reduced uptake of glucose. Since galactose is not efficiently used for glycolysis, this decreases the production of glutathione, which is essential for countering oxidative iron toxicity. The brain cells that are most sensitive to this effect, as attested by their expression of the iron chelator neuromelanin, are those that continuously secrete dopamine and norepinephrine, and they eventually degenerate. This account explains the etiology, symptoms (including prodromal autonomic symptoms), pathology and risk factors of the disease. The theory is supported by strong evidence, and gives rise to several relatively simply directions for early identification and treatment of the disease.