Gut microbiome dysbiosis across early Parkinson’s disease, REM sleep behavior disorder and their first-degree relatives
Open accessAbstract
The microbiota-gut-brain axis has been suggested to play an important role in Parkinson’s disease (PD). Here we performed a cross-sectional study to profile gut microbiota across early PD, REM sleep behavior disorder (RBD), first-degree relatives of RBD (RBD-FDR), and healthy controls, which could reflect the gut-brain staging model of PD. We show gut microbiota compositions are significantly altered in early PD and RBD compared with control and RBD-FDR. Depletion of butyrate-producing bacteria and enrichment of pro-inflammatory Collinsella have already emerged in RBD and RBD-FDR after controlling potential confounders including antidepressants, osmotic laxatives, and bowel movement frequency. Random forest modelling identifies 12 microbial markers that are effective to distinguish RBD from control. These findings suggest that PD-like gut dysbiosis occurs at the prodromal stages of PD when RBD develops and starts to emerge in the younger RBD-FDR subjects. The study will have etiological and diagnostic implications.
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RBD is associated with a high likelihood of developing PD and individuals with RBD show alterations in the gut microbiome.
“Rapid eye movement sleep behavior disorder (RBD) is associated with a high likelihood of developing PD and individuals with RBD show alterations in the gut microbiome [20, 21].”
From The gut–brain axis in early Parkinson’s disease: from prodrome to prevention (2025) · cites this paper as [21]
One study identified depletion of Lachnospira and Butyricicoccus in prodromal RBD and first-degree relatives of RBD patients.
“In support, one study identified depletion of Lachnospira and Butyricicoccus in prodromal RBD and first-degree relatives of RBD patients [131, 132].”
From The gut–brain axis in early Parkinson’s disease: from prodrome to prevention (2025) · cites this paper as [132]
Gut microbiome changes have been seen in early and prodromal PD.
“Gut microbiome changes have been seen in early and prodromal PD.”
From The gut–brain axis in early Parkinson’s disease: from prodrome to prevention (2025) · cites this paper as [132]
Diminished SCFA-producing species and SCFA levels are consistently reported in prodromal PD and PD patients compared with healthy controls, and may be correlated with clinical severity of PD.
“These findings are in concordance with a substantial body of literature that consistently reports diminished SCFAs-producing species and SCFA levels in prodromal stage of PD and PD patients compared to healthy controls, which may be correlated with the clinical severity of PD.52,322–331”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [52]
A recent study has identified constipation/bowel movement frequency as a potential mediator in the relationship between gut microbiota and the likelihood of developing prodromal PD.
“A recent study has identified constipation/bowel movement frequency as a potential mediator in the relationship between gut microbiota and the likelihood of developing prodromal PD.52”
From Microbiota–gut–brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases (2024) · cites this paper as [52]
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References 72 · Cited by 187
Research works printed but not linked: 3
- [18]Liu Y Evolution of prodromal REM sleep behavior disorder to neurodegeneration: a retrospective, longitudinal case-control study Neurology 2022 99 e627 e637 10.1212/WNL.0000000000200707 35550550 · DOI
- [36]Qin XY Zhang SP Cao C Loh YP Cheng Y Aberrations in peripheral inflammatory cytokine levels in Parkinson disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis JAMA Neurol. 2016 73 1316 1324 10.1001/jamaneurol.2016.2742 27668667 · DOI
- [60]Consensus statement on the definition of orthostatic hypotension, pure autonomic failure, and multiple system atrophy. The Consensus Committee of the American Autonomic Society and the American Academy of Neurology Neurology 1996 46 1470 8628505
- Authors
- Huang, B., Chau, S. W. H., Liu, Y., Chan, J. W. Y., Wang, J., Ma, S. L., Zhang, J., Chan, P. K. S., Yeoh, Y. K., Chen, Z., Zhou, L., Wong, S. H., Mok, V. C. T., To, K. F., Lai, H. M., Ng, S., Trenkwalder, C., Chan, F. K. L., & Wing, Y. K.
- Affiliations
- Chinese University of Hong Kong (HK)
- Nanyang Technological University (SG)
- Universitätsmedizin Göttingen (DE)
- Corresponding author
- Wing, Yun Kwok
- ORCID
- Venue
- Nature Communications
- Published
- 2023-05-02
- Volume
- 14
- Issue
- 1
- Pages
- 2501-2501
- ISSN
- 2041-1723 (ISSN-L)
- PMC
- PMC10154387
- OpenAlex
- W4367678257
- Cited by
- 187
- References
- 72
- Citations by year
- 2026: 52 · 2025: 73 · 2024: 49 · 2023: 13
- FWCI
- 16.66
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- gold
- doi.org
- Locations
- Nature Communications (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
- PubMed (publishedVersion)
- ResearchOnline - JCU (James Cook University) (submittedVersion)
- RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
- DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion, cc-by-sa)
- DR-NTU (Nanyang Technological University) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- GoeScholar The Publication Server of the Georg-August-Universität Göttingen (Georg-August-Universität Göttingen) (submittedVersion, cc-by)
- Funders
- Food and Health Bureau of the Government of the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region | Health and Medical Research Fund (05162876)
- Research Grants Council, University Grants Committee (C4044-21GF)
- Centre for Gut Microbiota Research, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong (CUHK), Hong Kong
- Topics
- Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Neurology › Parkinson's Disease Mechanisms and Treatments
- Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
- Keywords
- Parkinson's disease, REM sleep behavior disorder, gut microbiota, microbiota-gut-brain axis, dysbiosis, first-degree relatives, prodromal Parkinson's disease, butyrate-producing bacteria, Collinsella, pro-inflammatory bacteria, microbial biomarkers
- MeSH terms
- Gastrointestinal Microbiome, Cross-Sectional Studies, Humans, Parkinson Disease, REM Sleep Behavior Disorder, Dysbiosis
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