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Gut-directed therapy in Parkinson's disease
Laura Benvenuti1, Clelia Di Salvo1, Gabriele Bellini2
1Unit of Pharmacology and Pharmacovigilance, Department of Clinical and Experimental Medicine, University of Pisa, Pisa, Italy.
Frontiers in Pharmacology
|July 8, 2024
Summary
Gut-directed therapies targeting the microbiota-gut-brain axis show promise for Parkinson's disease (PD). Modulating the gut microbiome may offer new treatment strategies for PD patients, addressing both motor and non-motor symptoms.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Gastroenterology
- Microbiology
Background:
- Parkinson's disease (PD) involves motor and non-motor symptoms, notably gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunctions.
- The microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis, a bacterial-neuro-immune pathway, is increasingly implicated in PD progression.
- PD patients exhibit altered gut microbiota, impaired intestinal barrier, and neuroinflammation, contributing to brain pathology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the current understanding of the MGB axis in Parkinson's disease.
- To explore the therapeutic potential of gut-directed interventions for PD.
- To examine how MGB axis modulation can be integrated into clinical practice for PD management.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review on the MGB axis and Parkinson's disease.
- Analysis of studies on dietary interventions, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT).
- Evaluation of evidence from both PD patients and animal models.
Main Results:
- Gut dysbiosis and MGB axis dysfunction are associated with PD.
- Gut-directed therapies demonstrate beneficial effects in PD patients and models.
- Mechanisms involve halting or slowing PD pathology through MGB axis modulation.
Conclusions:
- Modulating the MGB axis represents a promising therapeutic strategy for Parkinson's disease.
- Dietary interventions, probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, and FMT warrant further investigation and clinical application.
- Targeting the gut microbiome offers a novel approach to manage PD symptoms and progression.
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