Microbiome and Metabolome Insights into the Role of the Gastrointestinal–Brain Axis in Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s Disease: Unveiling Potential Therapeutic Targets
Helena U. Zacharias,
Christoph Kaleta,
François Cossais,
Eva Schaeffer,
Henry Berndt,
Lena Best,
Thomas Dost,
Svea Glüsing,
Mathieu Groussin,
Mathilde Poyet,
Sebastian Heinzel,
Corinna Bang,
Leonard Siebert,
Tobias Demetrowitsch,
Frank Leypoldt,
Rainer Adelung,
Thorsten Bartsch,
Anja Bosy-Westphal,
Karin Schwarz,
Daniela Berg
Affiliations
Helena U. Zacharias
Peter L. Reichertz Institute for Medical Informatics of TU Braunschweig and Hannover Medical School, 30625 Hannover, Germany
Christoph Kaleta
Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, 24105 Kiel, Germany
François Cossais
Institute of Anatomy, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Eva Schaeffer
Department of Neurology, Kiel University and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Henry Berndt
Research Group Comparative Immunobiology, Zoological Institute, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Lena Best
Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Thomas Dost
Research Group Medical Systems Biology, Institute for Experimental Medicine, Kiel University, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Svea Glüsing
Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Food Technology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Mathieu Groussin
Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Mathilde Poyet
Department of Biological Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, Cambridge, MA 02139, USA
Sebastian Heinzel
Department of Neurology, Kiel University and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Corinna Bang
Institute of Clinical Molecular Biology, Kiel University and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Leonard Siebert
Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science—KiNSIS, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Tobias Demetrowitsch
Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Food Technology, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Frank Leypoldt
Department of Neurology, Kiel University and University Medical Center Schleswig-Holstein, Campus Kiel, 24105 Kiel, Germany
Rainer Adelung
Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science—KiNSIS, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Thorsten Bartsch
Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science—KiNSIS, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Anja Bosy-Westphal
Institute of Human Nutrition and Food Science, Kiel University, 24107 Kiel, Germany
Karin Schwarz
Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science—KiNSIS, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Daniela Berg
Kiel Nano, Surface and Interface Science—KiNSIS, Kiel University, 24118 Kiel, Germany
Neurodegenerative diseases such as Parkinson’s (PD) and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the prevalence of which is rapidly rising due to an aging world population and westernization of lifestyles, are expected to put a strong socioeconomic burden on health systems worldwide. Clinical trials of therapies against PD and AD have only shown limited success so far. Therefore, research has extended its scope to a systems medicine point of view, with a particular focus on the gastrointestinal–brain axis as a potential main actor in disease development and progression. Microbiome and metabolome studies have already revealed important insights into disease mechanisms. Both the microbiome and metabolome can be easily manipulated by dietary and lifestyle interventions, and might thus offer novel, readily available therapeutic options to prevent the onset as well as the progression of PD and AD. This review summarizes our current knowledge on the interplay between microbiota, metabolites, and neurodegeneration along the gastrointestinal–brain axis. We further illustrate state-of-the art methods of microbiome and metabolome research as well as metabolic modeling that facilitate the identification of disease pathomechanisms. We conclude with therapeutic options to modulate microbiome composition to prevent or delay neurodegeneration and illustrate potential future research directions to fight PD and AD.
