Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a common neurodegenerative disorder characterized by
misfolding of -synuclein. Clinical manifestations include slowly
developing resting tremor, muscle rigidity, bradykinesia and abnormal gait. The
pathological mechanisms underlying PD are complex and yet to be fully elucidated.
Clinical studies suggest that the onset of gastrointestinal symptoms may precede
motor symptoms in PD patients. The microbiota-gut-brain axis plays a
bidirectional communication role between the enteric nervous system and the
central nervous system. This bidirectional communication between the brain and
gut is influenced by the neural, immune and endocrine systems related to the gut
microbiome. A growing body of evidence indicates a strong link between
dysregulation of the gut microbiota and PD. In this review, we present recent
progress in understanding the relationship between the microbiota-gut-brain axis
and PD. We focus on the role of the gut microbiota, the unique changes observed
in the microbiome of PD patients, and the impact of these changes on the
progression of PD. Finally, we evaluate the role of current treatment strategies
for PD, including probiotics, fecal microbial transplants, dietary modifications,
and related drug therapies.