Objective: To assess changes in the gut microbiome composition in a small cohort of clinical trial participants using photobiomodulation (light therapy) over a five-year period

Background: There is a well-established microbiome-gut-brain axis link in neurodegenerative diseases, particularly Parkinson’s disease.  Microbial metabolites help maintain the gut barrier to limit systemic inflammation, are a source of neurotransmitters and modulate cellular cytoskeletons to maintain an effective blood-brain barrier. The gut microbiome of people with Parkinson’s (PwP) has been shown to differ significantly from healthy adults, with loss of diversity, a reduced proportion of beneficial bacteria and an increased proportion of potentially harmful bacteria. Gut microbiome diversity has the potential to act as a marker for onset and progression of Parkinson’s disease. Photobiomodulation therapy (PBMt) uses specific wavelengths of light to affect therapeutic changes at a molecular level. We have previously shown in pre-clinical models and in a small number of PwP that PBMt might also modify the microbiome in a beneficial way. PBMt has also shown promising improvement for Parkinson’s disease symptoms.

Method: 8 participants with idiopathic Parkinson’s disease were treated with LEDs transcranially (4 diodes, 810 nm, 70 or 100 mW, 20 minutes) and intranasally (1 diode, 810 nm, 25mW, 25 minutes) as well as with laser transdermally to the abdomen and neck (2 diodes, 904 nm, 30mW, 10 points, 1 minute/point) for 12 weeks in the clinic. The abdominal laser treatment was continued at home for 5 years together with a variety of transcranial LED devices. Faecal samples were provided at baseline, after 12 weeks of treatment and after 5 years. DNA was extracted and next generation sequencing was performed on 16S amplification to determine microbial diversity.

Results: Changes in the gut microbiome diversity from that determined before PBMt began was seen after 12 weeks and 5 years of PBMt. Considering the small numbers of participants in this trial, no change was significant, but there was an observed trend of improvement in the proportions of some beneficial bacteria and an improvement in the Firmicutes:Bacteroidetes ratio.

Conclusion: The gut microbiome of the participants in this study at 5 years differed from what would normally be expected for PwP. The gut microbiome has the potential to be an avenue for treatment for Parkinson’s disease.

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MDS Abstracts - https://www.mdsabstracts.org/abstract/changes-in-gut-microbiome-of-parkinsons-disease-patients-using-photobiomodulation-therapy/