The link between gut health and neurodegenerative disorders: the importance of the microbiota

Kevin L. López-Simental, School of Chemical Sciences. Universidad Autonoma de Nuevo Leon. San Nicolas de los Garza, Nuevo León, Mexico
Karen P. Camarillo-Cárdenas, Independent Researcher, Monterrey, Nuevo León, Mexico
Leonel Cantú-Martínez, Tecnológico de Monterrey, Escuela de Medicina y Ciencias de la Salud, Instituto de Neurología y Neurocirugía, Centro Médico Zambrano Hellion, TecSalud, San Pedro Garza Garcia. Nuevo León, Mexico

The gut microbiota, a complex ecosystem of microorganisms, plays an essential role in human health by influencing metab-olism, immune function, and the gut–brain axis. Emerging evidence links gut dysbiosis (imbalance) to neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer’s disease, Parkinson’s disease, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, and Huntington’s disease. Mecha-nistic pathways include the propagation of amyloidogenic proteins, production of neurotoxic metabolites such as trimethyl-amine N-oxide, and intestinal permeability disruption. This review highlights key mechanisms and explores therapies such as fecal microbiota therapy, probiotics, and lifestyle changes to modulate the microbiota and slow neurodegeneration. Despite significant advances, further research is essential to fully understand the microbiota’s role in neurodegeneration and to develop microbiota-targeted therapies for clinical application.

Keywords: Gut microbiota. Neurodegenerative diseases. Gut-brain axis. Bacterial amyloid. TMAO. Micro-biota-targetedtherapies.