The Gut-Brain Axis in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Assessing the Therapeutic Potential of Probiotics and Faecal Microbiota Transplantation
The Gut-Brain Axis in Neurodegenerative Disorders: Assessing the Therapeutic Potential of Probiotics and Faecal Microbiota Transplantation
Where did the research take place?
The study site has not been established. Author addresses may differ from where the research occurred.
A plain-language reading has not been prepared for this paper yet.
Original abstract
The gut-brain axis (GBA) is a complicated bi-directional communication system connecting the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous system. There is a growing body of experimental and clinical data that gut microbial composition aberrancies are significant contributory factors to the pathogenesis and progression of neurodegenerative conditions such as Alzheimer and Parkinson diseases. This review aims to summarize existing knowledge regarding the role of the gut-brain axis in neurodegeneration and critically assess microbiota-based treatment intervention, i.e. probiotics and faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). PubMed, Scopus, and Web of Science were used to conduct a thorough literature analysis on preclinical and clinical studies that were published since 2010. Both animal studies as well as human studies were incorporated based on specified qualifying criteria. There is clear evidence that gut microbial dysbiosis also leads to dementia through the following pathways: neuroinflammation, defective protein homeostasis, and compromised blood-brain barrier integrity. Fecal microbial transplantation provides an opportunity to provide greater yet less regulated means by which gut microbial ecosystems can be modified, potentially influencing the development of disease, although probiotic therapies have shown small effects on the cognitive and metabolic outcome. Although with good results, a clinical validation through large-scale, well-conducted clinical studies is required to be shown as effective in therapy and long-term safety guaranteed. In general, our findings indicate that targeting the gut microbiota is a viable method of treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.