Can gut bacteria influence brain disease? The microbiome, Parkinson’s and dementia | William Li

The gut-brain axis represents a frontier in neuroregeneration, challenging the traditional belief that brain decline is irreversible. Specific bacterial strains like *Lactobacillus plantarum* (PS128) show clinical potential in slowing the progression of Parkinson’s disease and ALS by modulating neural pathways. Furthermore, oral dysbiosis and "irritable mouth syndrome" are increasingly linked to the development of Alzheimer’s and dementia, suggesting that systemic inflammation originates in the microbiome. *Lactobacillus reuteri* serves as a primary example of this connection; it is naturally transferred from mother to infant via breast milk and later triggers the brain to release oxytocin. This "social hormone" not only fosters human connection but is essential for healthy aging. Maintaining a diverse microbiome through targeted probiotics and fermented foods may therefore reshape the trajectory of brain health and cognitive longevity.