Justyna Korbecka

Justyna Korbecka

Wroclaw Medical University, Poland

Title: The Role of Probiotics in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease

Abstract

Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder after Alzheimer's disease, affecting approximately 1% of the population over the age of 60. The disease is characterized by the progressive loss of dopaminergic neurons in the substantia nigra and intracellular accumulation of alpha-synuclein.Although the etiology of PD is not fully understood, recent research has implicated the gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of the disease. The gut microbiota is a complex community of microorganisms that reside in the gastrointestinal tract and play a crucial role in regulating various physiological functions. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiota may affect the development and progression of PD through several mechanisms, including the production of neurotoxins, changes in gut permeability, induction of neuroinflammation, and reduced fecal short-chain fatty acids.Studies have shown that patients with PD have a higher prevalence of small intestinal bacterial overgrowth and alterations in gut microbiota composition compared to healthy individuals. Additionally, gut dysbiosis has been observed in animal models of PD. Modulation of the gut microbiota can be accomplished, for instance, by probiotics which are live microorganisms that, administered in adequate amounts, may bring some particular health benefits to the host. New studies have found that probiotics have potential anticancer, antioxidative, anti-inflammatory, and neuroprotective effects. In this regard, they may improve motor and non-motor symptoms in PD patients by targeting oxidative stress, inflammatory pathways, and apoptosis. However, more research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the gut-brain axis in PD and to develop effective microbiota-based therapies for the disease. In conclusion, the gut microbiota is emerging as a key player in the pathogenesis and treatment of PD. Understanding the relationship between the gut microbiota and PD could lead to innovative therapeutic strategies for the disease.

Biography

Justyna Korbecka received her medical degree at the age of 25 years from Wroclaw Medical University in Poland. She is currently pursuing her PhD research in the field of gut microbiota modification as a novel therapeutic strategy for Parkinson’s disease at the Department of Neurology in the collaboration with the Department of Gastroenterology and Hepatology, University Clinical Hospital in Wroclaw, Poland. She has already two publications on the role of gut microbiota in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders and probiotics in the treatment of Parkinson’s disease.