Potential Role of Probiotics and Fecal Microbiota Transplantation in the Treatment of Parkinson's Disease

Abstract

Parkinson disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disease worldwide. It is characterized by both motor and non-motor symptoms. The histopathological hallmark of PD is the loss of dopaminergic neurons from the substantia nigra combined with Lewy bodies (LBs) and Lewy neurites, together termed Lewy pathology. However, the exact pathophysiological mechanism underpinning PD remains undetermined. Compelling evidence highlights the potential involvement of gut microbiota dysbiosis in the pathogenesis of PD and point toward potential pathological mechanisms between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain. In this regard, microbiota-targeted interventions such as probiotics and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) have been recently demonstrated to have a beneficial role in alleviating PD symptoms and providing neuroprotection. This chapter briefly provides an overview of current knowledge on disturbed gut microbiota and the gut-brain axis in PD, followed by possible therapeutic interventions, with a particular focus on the use of probiotics and FMT.