3 Reasons to Consider a Daily Probiotic Supplement for Parkinson’s

Your gut is home to the gut microbiome, which consists of trillions of tiny organisms that help with digestion and keep your gut healthy. These organisms also affect your brain, mood, and movement. When the gut microbiome is unbalanced, it can impact more than just digestion. Probiotics are a helpful tool to restore and maintain balance in the gut microbiome. They provide a specific amount of beneficial bacteria. Probiotics can be helpful for everyone, but there are three ways they can particularly help people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Constipation and other gut problems are common in people with Parkinson's Disease (PD). Probiotics can help with these issues by improving bowel movements. The Movement Disorders Society recommends probiotics for treating constipation in PD. For mood and movement, some probiotics can help because they produce dopamine, which is usually lost in PD. A specific probiotic strain, L. plantarum PS128, has been shown in studies to increase dopamine levels and protect brain cells in animals. A small study in people with PD found that taking PS128 improved their motor symptoms and quality of life. A larger study is ongoing. Constipation and IBS-like symptoms often appear many years before Parkinson's Disease (PD) is diagnosed. Some evidence suggests that PD might start in the gut with an unbalanced microbiome causing inflammation and harmful particles that move to the brain, leading to neuron damage. Probiotics could potentially help fix this gut imbalance before it leads to PD, although this isn't confirmed by science yet. However, it’s important not to ignore gut issues. Addressing long-term constipation and other problems with a healthy diet, gut-health probiotics, or medical care is advisable.