Objective: We aimed to identify gut dysbiosis in Parkinson’s disease patients with motor complications.

Background: Recently, several evidences suggest that the gut microbiota is associated with abnormal α-synuclein accumulation in the enteric plexus in patients with Parkinson’s disease.  We had conducted a multinational meta-analysis, which revealed that Parkinson’s disease is associated with gut dysbiosis. However, whether the gut microbiota can be altered in advanced stage of Parkinson’s disease showing motor complications remains unclear.

Method: We conducted a multicenter cross-sectional registration study throughout Japan. Fecal samples were collected for the next-generation sequencing analysis. We used statistical analysis between Parkinson’s disease patients with motor complications. In addition, Multivariate analysis was performed taking into account the effects of confounding factors.

Results: We enrolled 223 Parkinson’s disease patients. Patients with wearing-off showed a relative increase of Lachnospiraceae NK4A136, Lactobacilaceae Lactobacillus, Bifidobacteriaceae Bifidobacterium, Desulfovibrionaceae Biophila, Ruminococcaceae Oscillibacter, and Lachnospiraceae Tyzzerella, and relative decrease of Lachnospiraceae Blautia, Lachnospiraceae Fusicatenibacter, Lachnospiraceae Anaerostipes, and Lachnospiraceae Eligens group. Patients with dyskinesia showed a relative increase in Prevotellaceae Alloprevotella and Lachnospiraceae Pediococcus and a relative decrease in Lachnospiraceae Blautia and Eggerthellaceae Eggerthella.
Lachnosperaceae Blautia was significantly decreased in patients with wearing-off (p < 0.0001) and dyskinesia (p = 0.0408). After adjusting for confounding factors, the decrease of Lachnospiraceae Blautia was significantly related to age (p = 0.006), duration of illness (p = 0.045), L-dopa dosage (p = 0.032), and wearing-off (p = 0.002).

Conclusion: Lachnosperaceae Blautia was decreased in Parkinson’s disease patients who were aged, living longer with Parkinson’s disease, treated with higher dosage of L-dopa, and with wearing-off. Together with our previous study, this study suggests that gut dysbiosis is not only associated with the onset of PD but also developing motor complications. Because Lachnosperaceae Blautia is abundant in Japanese fermented foods, we expect that changes of gut microbiota via daily dietary life can contribute in modifying the natural course of Parkinson’s disease.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/gut-dysbiosis-in-parkinsons-disease-with-motor-complications/