The Gut Microbiota in Parkinson Disease: Interactions with Drugsand Potential for Therapeutic Applications

Recent research highlights the importance of the "microbiota-gut-brain axis" in Parkinson's disease (PD). Gut bacteria can affect how medications like levodopa work, and PD drugs can change gut bacteria composition. Gut microbes can convert levodopa into other compounds, reducing its availability. Targeting these microbial pathways might improve levodopa absorption. Gut issues like bacterial overgrowth and infections can also affect levodopa metabolism, and treating these may help. Adjusting gut bacteria through diet, prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal transplants shows promise in managing PD symptoms and improving medication effectiveness. This approach offers a new potential treatment avenue for PD.