Parkinson's disease and gut microbiota: from clinical to mechanistic and therapeutic studies

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Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease
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Author Spotlight: Exploring Non-Motor Symptoms in Parkinson's Disease

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Xuxiang Zhang1, Beisha Tang1,2,3,4,5,6, Jifeng Guo7,8,9,10,11,12

  • 1Department of Neurology, Xiangya Hospital, Central South University, Changsha, 410008, China.

Translational Neurodegeneration
|December 15, 2023
PubMed

Insights

Parkinson's disease (PD) is linked to gut microbiota changes. This review explores how gut bacteria influence PD, their connection to treatments, and potential microbial therapies for this neurodegenerative disease.

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Microbiology
  • Gastroenterology

Background:

  • Parkinson's disease (PD) is a prevalent neurodegenerative disorder.
  • Non-motor symptoms, like intestinal issues, often precede motor deficits in PD.
  • The gut microbiota-brain axis influences central nervous system physiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current findings on gut microbial alterations in PD.
  • To describe mechanisms linking gut bacteria to PD pathogenesis.
  • To discuss the relationship between gut microbes, anti-PD drugs, and microbial therapies.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent research on PD and gut microbiota.
  • Analysis of studies on microbial changes, mechanisms, and therapeutic strategies.
  • Synthesis of evidence on the microbiota-gut-brain axis in PD.

Main Results:

  • Significant associations exist between gut microbiota composition and PD.
  • Gut bacteria can influence PD through neurological, endocrine, and immune pathways.
  • Correlations between gut microbes and the efficacy of anti-PD medications are evident.

Conclusions:

  • Gut microbiota plays a crucial role in Parkinson's disease.
  • Understanding these microbial connections may lead to novel therapeutic approaches.
  • Further research into microbial therapies for PD is warranted.
Keywords:
Alpha-synucleinGut microbiotaMechanismsMicrobial therapyMicrobiota–gut–brain axis

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