Parkinson's disease may start in appendix, new research finds

TAMPA, Florida - Parkinson's disease has long been considered a disease of the brain, but research out on Wednesday found it may start in the gut - specifically in the appendix, a tiny organ near the large intestine.

Using health registries in Sweden and the United States, researchers found that those who had their appendix removed in early adulthood generally saw their risk of developing the incurable neurodegenerative disorder cut by 19 percent, said the study in the journal Science Translational Medicine.

In rural areas of Sweden, where people may be more exposed to pesticides - which have been shown to play a role in Parkinson's - the effect was even greater: a 25 percent lower risk.