Wildau/Berlin/Salzburg – Worldwide, neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia, and Parkinson’s are on the rise. As these conditions become more prevalent, research is increasingly focused on the idea that these illnesses aren’t solely rooted in the brain, but are connected to broader systemic processes. These processes include chronic inflammation, environmental factors, and the health of the gut, which serves as a key link between the body, the immune system, and the brain.
Wildau/Berlin/Salzburg (pts031/12.02.2026/16:10) – Neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer’s, other forms of dementia, and Parkinson’s are on the rise globally. Simultaneously, scientific understanding is growing that these conditions don’t originate solely within the brain. More and more studies suggest that systemic processes play a crucial role – including chronic inflammation, environmental exposures, and the condition of the gut, which acts as a central interface between the body, the immune system, and the brain.
Against this backdrop, the information portal “Alzheimer Deutschland” has published an extensive interview with microbiome expert Dr. Paul Hammer, a bioinformatician, systems biologist, and CEO of the biotechnology company BIOMES. In the conversation, the scientist contextualizes the current state of research and explains the role the microbiome can play in the context of neurodegenerative diseases – and where clear boundaries lie.
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: Systemic Connections Rather Than Isolated Brain Models
For a long time, Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s were primarily viewed as diseases of the brain, often linked to protein deposits like beta-amyloid or tau. Today, systemic factors are increasingly coming into focus in research. Chronic inflammatory processes, environmental toxins like pesticides or heavy metals, and changes in the gut microbiome are being discussed as potential contributing factors.
“Neurodegenerative diseases do not arise exclusively in the brain, but are the result of complex systemic processes,” explains Dr. Hammer. The microbiome is receiving increased attention because it represents a central interface between the environment, the immune system, metabolism, and the nervous system via the gut-brain axis.
Current Scientific Findings on the Gut-Brain Axis, Blood-Brain Barrier, and Neuroinflammation
A central theme of the interview is therefore the gut-brain axis and the blood-brain barrier. The gut is in close communication with the brain via immunological, hormonal, and neuronal signaling pathways. If the microbiome is out of balance or the intestinal barrier is impaired, inflammatory processes can be favored, which can have systemic effects.
Studies also show that chronic inflammation can affect the function of the blood-brain barrier. This protective barrier of the brain is crucial for determining which substances from the body enter the central nervous system. Neuroinflammation is now considered a relevant disease mechanism in both Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
Individual Microbiome Diagnostics: From Gut Feeling to Data
Despite this growing knowledge, many people still lack a concrete approach to their own gut health. General recommendations regarding diet or probiotics often remain too nonspecific, especially since the gut flora can be very sensitive to the administration of general bacterial strains, sometimes even with a worsening of the microbiome composition.
getting to understand one’s own microbiome is the first step to taking meaningful measures to stabilize the gut flora and thus to prevention. Modern microbiome diagnostics now make it possible to have the individual gut ecosystem analyzed in detail – and quite simply from home.
Modern Microbiome Tests: Precision Diagnostics Instead of General Recommendations
In the interview, Dr. Paul Hammer describes how modern microbiome tests work today and how they fundamentally differ from earlier, more general approaches. With the facilitate of high-resolution DNA sequencing and complex bioinformatic evaluation methods, the individual gut microbiome is recorded in detail and related to large scientific reference databases.
In this way, functional connections can be recognized, such as indications of inflammatory processes, reduced bacterial diversity, or a possible impairment of the intestinal barrier. The INTEST.pro test developed by Hammer’s biotechnology company BIOMES does not replace a medical diagnosis, but can provide a data-based basis for recognizing systemic burdens earlier and planning preventive measures more targeted – especially in the context of complex diseases such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s.
Yet Another “Missing Link”: The Intestinal Barrier as the Basis of a Stable Microbiome
It is also important to understand that a healthy microbiome also depends on the condition of the gut itself. Another focus of the conversation is therefore on the intestinal barrier as a prerequisite for a functioning microbiome. Environmental pollutants, such as heavy metals or pesticide residues, the increasing pollution of air and water, medications, and chronic stress can massively weaken this barrier. In such cases, supportive measures for intestinal relief are increasingly discussed in practice.
attention is also drawn to the scientifically studied mineral substance PMA-Zeolite as a possibility for intestinal sanitation, which can bind burdensome substances in the gastrointestinal tract. This is not considered a therapy, but an efficient building block to relieve the intestinal barrier and create prerequisites for a stable microbiome.
Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s: Why a Healthy Gut is Increasingly Relevant for Prevention and Understanding
Dr. Hammer emphasizes in the interview that the microbiome itself does not cause Alzheimer’s or Parkinson’s. Rather, it influences, as a biological modulator, how pronounced inflammatory processes in the body are and how resilient the organism is to environmental influences, chronic stress, and age-related changes. Especially in the context of the prevention of neurodegenerative diseases, the microbiome is therefore gaining importance – not as an isolated approach, but as part of a systemic understanding of health.
With the interview, “Alzheimer Deutschland” contributes to evidence-based education about systemic connections in Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s – beyond simplified explanatory models and without promises of healing.
The complete interview with Dr. Paul Hammer is now available on “Alzheimer Deutschland (https://www.alzheimer-deutschland.de/):
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Sender: Medical Interest Group TPS – Alzheimer Deutschland Contact: Katja C. Schmidt Tel.: 0049-(0)1579-24-54-388 E-Mail: [email protected] Website: www.alzheimer-deutschland.de
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The growing body of research into neurodegenerative diseases is shifting focus from the brain as an isolated organ to a more holistic view of systemic health. Understanding the interplay between gut health, inflammation, and environmental factors may be key to preventing and managing conditions like Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease.
