Investigating the Association between Use of Antimicrobial Agents and Possible Onset of Parkinson's Disease

Investigating the Association between Use of Antimicrobial Agents and Possible Onset of Parkinson's Disease

 

Overview

Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a degenerative disorder of the central nervous system, affecting millions of people all around the globe. Genetic factors in the development of PD are greatly appreciated, but the research now has information on other risk factors such as antimicrobial exposure, which are more environmental and lifestyle-based factors. Newer research has suggested that some classes of antimicrobial drugs can be harmful to the gut-brain axis, which has been implicated in the pathophysiology of Parkinson’s disease. Elucidation of these mechanisms may be useful in understanding the relationship between the temporal and dose-response effects of antimicrobial exposure and the incidence of PD, which may help in the identification of potential preventive measures.

What is Parkinson’s Disease?

Parkinson’s disease is a progressive movement disorder that is due to the destruction of the nerve cells responsible for dopamine production in the brain, resulting in shaking, stiffness, and trouble walking. The actual reason for this is still unknown, but a combination of external, genetic, and lifestyle patterns is assumed to play a role. A specific aspect that has received considerable attention lately is the interaction between the gut and Parkinson’s disease, a phenomenon referred to as the gut-brain axis.

Antimicrobials and Their Abuse

Overview and Categories of Antimicrobials

Antimicrobials are any agents that kill or inhibit pathogenic microorganisms, which include antibiotics, antifungals, antivirals, and anti-parasitics. These agents have been pivotal in the management of diseases and in the decline of death rates due to infections; nonetheless, concerns on overuse as well as misuse have been raised regarding their risk to people’s health, especially on the gut flora, which is important in immune defense and health.

Increased Use of Antimicrobials

Antimicrobials are becoming more prevalent and are not only confined to treatment of conditions but also in food and agriculture. Moreover, with increased exposure via the food and water supply, there comes an increased risk of adverse reactions relating to gut health and diseases.

Gut Microbiota and the Gut-Brain Axis

The gut microbiome plays a significant role in the gut-brain axis, which is two-way, the gastrointestinal tract communicating with the central nervous system, the latter being the brain and the spinal cord. This microbiota is important for the maintenance of this pathway and for the control of neuroinflammation, which has been related to some neurodegenerative disorders such as Parkinson’s disease.

Effect of Antimicrobials on Gut Microbiota

Antimicrobials alter gut bacteria composition, which reduces healthy bacteria’s diversity and permits disease-causing microorganisms to flourish. These alterations have been associated with elevated neuroinflammation, thereby disrupting gut-brain communication and increasing the risk for diseases, such as Parkinson’s, that induce neurodegeneration.

Mechanisms of Action of Antimicrobials with Respect to Parkinson’s Disease

Neuroinflammation and Immune Activation

Antimicrobials induce dysbiosis of the gut flora, creating an imbalance in gut bacteria that raises inflammatory cytokines. Such inflammatory responses can raise the risk of opening the blood-brain barrier to these offending agents, thus invading the brain and resulting in the death of neurons upon consolidation. Since neuroinflammation is an encouraging facet of Parkinson’s disease, this also indicates that antimicrobial usage can worsen the condition.

Dopamine Production Affects Physiology

Bacteria in the intestines contribute significantly to the production of various chemicals, including dopamine. When gut microbiome composition is disrupted, dopamine levels can decrease, likely worsening the motor symptoms of Parkinson’s disease. Alterations in pathways involved in the synthesis of dopamine through the use of antimicrobials may lead to increased chances of developing Parkinson’s disease or its progression.

Syphilis Caused by the Exposure to Antidepressants and Parkinson’s Disease Development

Epidemiological Studies

Numerous longitudinal medical studies revealed that longitudinal exposure to antimicrobials increases the risk of developing Parkinson’s disease. The same trend is observed when repeated antimicrobials are administered where the use of antibiotics is deemed harmful, such as with PD gastroprotective antibiotics, so such risk is evident.

Experimental Research on Animal Models

It has been reported that the use of certain antimicrobials leads to changes in the intestinal microbiota, which results in neural inflammation that causes parkinsonism. These models show that antimicrobial exposure might contribute to the onset or progression of diseases such as Parkinson’s, which calls for a cautious evaluation of the long-term use of antimicrobials.

Preventive and Remedial Measures

Appropriate Antimicrobial Utilization

Prescribing anti-infective agents unnecessarily and observing recommendations for the rational use of these agents, especially in children, can help avoid the adverse effects on gut flora. Physicians are recommended to give antimicrobials only when it is needed, and treatment should be such that it has no effect on gut health.

Nutritional Measures to Maintain Gut Wellness

A healthy diet containing fiber, probiotics, and prebiotics may help in building a good gut microbiome, which may mitigate the effects caused by antimicrobials. Certain foods, such as yogurt, fermented fiber-rich vegetables, and fruits, restore the diversity of microbiota and support the gut-brain axis.

Studies on Therapies that Prevent Gut Damage and Disruptions

Current trends are about the research for the creation of therapies that will protect the human gut microbiome from the adverse effects during the course of antimicrobial treatment. Since the stability of the microbiome in an individual under the necessary antibiotic treatment is at risk, probiotics, postbiotics, and even fecal microbiota transplantation are being encouraged.

Conclusions

There is an increasing concern about the link between the use of antimicrobials and the incidence of Parkinson's disease due to the increased use of such medications. First, let us figure out how antimicrobial use can be able to disrupt the gut-brain axis and posit the possibility of neuroinflammation and depletion of dopamine and devise preventive strategies against the disease. Thus, future investigations should focus on ways to protect, which gives reason to believe that such beliefs may reduce the incidence of Parkinson’s disease and measures against the threat to society.