Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 4, 2025

Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease
Published on: September 22, 2023
Gut Microbiota in Monozygotic Twins Discordant for Parkinson's Disease
Carlotta Bolliri1,2, Alessandra Fontana3, Emanuele Cereda4
1Fondazione Grigioni per il Morbo di Parkinson, Milan, Italy.
Abstract:
Differences in gut microbiota between Parkinson's disease patients and controls seem to depend on multiple-frequently unmeasured-confounders. Monozygotic twins offer a unique model for controlling several factors responsible for interpersonal variation in gut microbiota. Fecal samples from 20 monozygotic twin pairs (n = 40) discordant for Parkinson's disease were studied (metagenomic shotgun analysis). Paired data analysis detected minimal differences in bacterial taxa abundance at species level (Bacteroides pectinophilus [p = 0.037], Bifidobacterium pseudocatenulatum [p = 0.050], and Bifidobacterium catenulatum [p = 0.025]) and in predicted metabolic pathways (primary bile acid biosynthesis [p = 0.037]). Additional studies are warranted to understand the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of Parkinson's disease. ANN NEUROL 2022;92:631-636.
Related Concept Videos
Parkinson's Disease: Overview
Neural Regulation
Parkinson's Disease: Treatment
Parkinson's Disease is primarily a result of the loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra pars compacta. The cornerstone of...
Biological Causes of Schizophrenia
Genetic Factors in Schizophrenia
The genetic basis of schizophrenia is strongly supported by family and twin...
What is Monogastric Digestion?

