Current trends and updates on the emerging role of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

Mar 18, 2026Antonie van Leeuwenhoek

New developments in using gut bacteria transplants to treat brain diseases that worsen over time

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Abstract

Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) shows promise as a potential therapeutic method for neurodegenerative diseases (NDs).

The gut microbiome is linked to neurodegenerative diseases, suggesting that its alteration may influence disease management.
FMT is increasingly being explored for its ability to restore a healthy microbiome in patients with dysbiotic gut conditions.
Despite its traditional use for Clostridium difficile infections, FMT is being considered for broader applications in neurological disorders.
Research into the gut-brain axis may reveal new insights into the mechanisms underlying NDs and their treatment.

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Fecal microbiota consists of a consortium of bacterial populations that reside in the human body, particularly in the gastrointestinal system, and are crucial to numerous physiological processes. Due to its promising clinical potential and acceptable safety profile, FMT has been the subject of numerous investigations as a possible therapeutic method for curing diverse disorders. Neurodegenerative diseases (NDs) are one among them and warrant immediate attention. There is a lack of efficient treatments for many ailments, and despite decades of research, we still don't fully understand their mechanisms and causes. The lack of advancement has prompted the research community to focus more on investigating novel or different elements that may impact the etiology or management of these disorders. The gut-brain axis, which embraces the two-way communication between the gut and brain via immunological, neurological, endocrine, and metabolic pathways, is one such element. Since NDs are frequently linked to aberrant gut microbiome compositions, it is not surprising that altering the gut microbiome can be a promising strategy in the treatment and management of neurological disorders. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a technique employed for modulating microbiome composition and is becoming more and more common. FMT or recolonizing the ''diseased'' gut with a normal microbiome is one way to restore a dysbiotic gut. Traditionally used to treat Clostridium difficile-linked infections, FMT has lately been investigated as a probable treatment strategy for NDs. This review aims to systematically tap the current trends and updates on the employment of FMT in neurodegenerative research, whether as a treatment regimen or to look into the role of the microbiota in pathogenesis.

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Current trends and updates on the emerging role of fecal microbiota transplantation in the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases

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