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Case Western Reserve links gut bacterial sugars to ALS FTD
NewsBytes | April 26, 2026 2:39 AM CST

Parabacteroides merdae glycogen causes mouse neuroinflammation

The team discovered that a specific bacterium, Parabacteroides merdae, produces an inflammatory type of glycogen that causes brain inflammation in mice.
Treating these mice with an enzyme called alpha-amylase helped reduce inflammation and even increased their lifespan (though it didn't fix movement issues).
In people with ALS, higher levels of this inflammatory glycogen were also found.
Up next: clinical trials could begin in a year to test if breaking down this glycogen can actually slow these diseases, potentially opening doors for new treatments focused on the gut-brain connection.


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