Keywords
Parkinson's Disease; Gut Microbiota; Dysbiosis; Alpha-Synuclein Aggregation; Gut-Brain Axis; Meta-Analysis
Abstract
Parkinson's Disease (PD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by motor and nonmotor symptoms, including gastrointestinal (GI) dysfunction. Symptoms such as constipation, bloating, and nausea often show early signs before the onset of motor symptoms. Recent research has suggested an essential role of the human gut microbiome and gut dysbiosis, an imbalance in gut microbiota composition, in the pathogenesis of PD. This thesis aims to assess the potential relationship between gut dysbiosis and PD by conducting a meta-analysis, focusing on differences in gut microbiota between PD patients and healthy controls and evaluating their implications for GI dysfunction and PD progression. The primary objectives of this meta-analysis are to (1) compare gut microbiota composition between PD patients and healthy controls via quantitative statistical metrics; (2) identify bacterial taxa differences and their functional roles; (3) assess whether these changes support the hypothesis that gut dysbiosis contributes to α-synuclein (α-SYN) aggregation and PD progression; and (4) evaluate the impact of study methodology and heterogeneity on the reported outcomes. The results revealed no statistically significant differences in alpha diversity between PD patients and controls, likely influenced by substantial heterogeneity across studies. However, specific bacterial taxa were consistently altered, with increased levels of pro-inflammatory bacteria and decreased levels of SCFA-producing bacteria in PD patients. This meta-analysis provides insights into the potential role of gut dysbiosis in PD, suggesting that changes in specific bacterial taxa may contribute to gut inflammation, increased gut permeability, and α-SYN aggregation. The findings highlight the complexity of the gut-brain axis in PD and the need for further longitudinal studies to understand the underlying mechanisms and explore targeted therapeutic intervention.
Thesis Completion Year
2024
Thesis Completion Semester
Fall
Thesis Chair
Schroeder, Kersten
College
College of Medicine
Department
Burnett School of Biomedical Sciences
Thesis Discipline
Biomedical Sciences
Language
English
Access Status
Open Access
Length of Campus Access
None
Campus Location
Orlando (Main) Campus
STARS Citation
Siddiqui, Ayan M. Mr., "Dysbiosis In Parkinson'S Disease: A Meta-Analysis Of Gut Microbiota And Its Role In Gastrointestinal Dysfunction And Disease Progression" (2024). Honors Undergraduate Theses. 215.
https://stars.library.ucf.edu/hut2024/215
Included in
Microbiology Commons, Nervous System Diseases Commons, Neuroscience and Neurobiology Commons
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