Authors: Avril Metcalfe-Roach, Mihai S. Cirstea, Adam C. Yu, Hena R. Ramay, Olabisi Coker, Seti Boroomand, Faezeh Kharazyan, Davide Martino, Laura K Sycuro, Silke Appel-Cresswell, B. Brett Finlay
Title: Metagenomic Analysis Reveals Large-Scale Disruptions of the Gut Microbiome in Parkinson’s Disease
Summary: A recent research study by ELCHA Investigators Silke Appel-Cresswell and Brett Finlay, ELCHA PhD trainee Avril Metcalfe-Roach, and colleagues has found significant links between changes in gut bacteria and the development and progression of Parkinson’s disease (PD). By analyzing stool samples from 176 people with PD and 100 healthy controls, the authors identified several differences in bacterial species and functions. PD patients showed reduced connectivity among gut microbes and a shift in bacterial functions—specifically, a decrease in carbohydrate breakdown and an increase in protein breakdown. Notably, the presence of the bacterium F. prausnitzii was associated with many of these changes. Some of these microbial changes were linked to faster disease progression, especially in those with symmetric motor symptoms. The study suggests that the differences in gut bacteria may contribute to the progression of PD, supporting the idea that there may be “gut-first” and “brain-first” forms of the disease. These findings could pave the way for new diagnostic tools and therapies targeting the gut microbiome in Parkinson’s disease management.
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