Faculty Sponsor

Jana Stedman

College

Nursing

Department/Program

Physician Assistant Program

Presentation Type

Poster Presentation

Symposium Date

Summer 7-24-2024

Abstract

Objectives. This paper is aimed to evaluate the efficacy of using probiotics as a supplemental treatment in Parkinson’s Disease to help decrease symptom severity.

Methods. PubMed, Valpo Summon, Google Scholar, Annual Review of Medicine, and the Journal of Neuroinflammation were used to research articles for this paper. The date of publication was set from 2019 to present, ensuring the most recent and accurate data on the topics.

Results. The studies reviewed in this paper used diverse methodologies, including clinical trials and animal models, to demonstrate promising outcomes regarding the reduction of motor symptoms and inflammatory markers in PD patients following probiotic supplementation. Probiotic interventions, such as Lactobacillus plantarum (PS128), Bifidobacterium animalis subsp. lactis (Probio-M8), and a prebiotic mixture, exhibit significant improvements in motor function, UPDRS scores, and inflammatory biomarkers. Additionally, in vitro studies highlight the potential of specific probiotic strains, particularly Lactobacillus salivarius and Lactobacillus acidophilus, to modulate cytokine profiles associated with PD pathology. These findings collectively underscore the emerging role of probiotics as a promising adjunctive therapeutic approach for managing motor symptoms and inflammation in Parkinson's disease.

Conclusion. Studies delving into the implications of incorporating probiotics as an adjunct therapy in patients with Parkinson's disease provides promising insights. The observed improvements in PD symptoms suggest that probiotics may serve as a valuable complementary intervention to standard therapy. However, further extensive research is imperative to ascertain the efficacy of probiotics as a therapeutic modality for patients afflicted with Parkinson's disease.

Keywords: Parkinson’s Disease, probiotics, treatment, motor symptoms, UPDRS

Biographical Information about Author(s)

Taylor Knight has a special interest in Neurology and Gastroenterology and plans on working in South Carolina following graduation. She is still deciding on which specialty to work in. She will be presenting on “Probiotics as a Complementary Therapy in the Treatment of Parkinson’s Disease” because she has a personal connection to Parkinson’s Disease.

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