Correlation Between Gut Microbiome Composition and Cognitive Function in Early Parkinson's Disease

This study investigates the relationship between gut microbiome composition and cognitive function in patients with early stage Parkinson's Disease (PD). Forty patients were recruited, and stool samples were collected for microbiome analysis using 16S rRNA sequencing. Cognitive function was assessed using standardized tools (MMSE and MoCA). Statistical analysis using Pearson correlation revealed a significant association between reduced microbiome diversity and lower cognitive scores. Specific bacterial taxa, including Prevotella and Bifidobacterium, were positively linked to cognitive performance. These findings suggest that gut microbiome composition may serve as a potential biomarker for early cognitive decline in PD and open avenues for microbiome targeted therapeutic strategies.