The Role of the Gut Microbiome in Neuromodulation Therapies as a Potential Treatment Adjunct for Multiple Sclerosis

Abstract

Gut microbiome research has surged in popularity over the past decade. These studies have found local and distal effects of micro organisms such as fungi and bacteria on human physiology, including the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. A number of studies have demonstrated the potential for gut microbiota to combat classical diseases such as clinical depression and autism spectrum disorder. The impact of gut-produced metabolites on the secretion of various cytokines has presented a new-found opportunity for future disease therapy through these micro-organisms. This review examines recent evidence for the use of gut bacteria in neurological rehabilitation, specifically for Multiple Sclerosis (MS) patients. Available data has shown overwhelming support for microbiota-based MS therapy, but the lack of comprehension regarding the specific physiological mechanisms of these microbiota suggests that clinical trials may be far off. Furthermore, there has been minimal research investigating the consequences of using microbiotic therapy in tandem with current therapies such as neurostimulation or drug therapy. Factors including the mechanisms and restorative capability of specific species of microbiota must be studied in depth in order to successfully manipulate the gut microbiome for the treatment of neurological disorders.