DIET & NUTRITION 
PATIENT EDUCATION 
OBESITY/WEIGHT MANAGEMENT 
EXERCISE/TRAINING 
LEGAL MATTERS 
GUIDELINES/RECOMMENDATIONS Editorial Note
Findings reflect an early clinical signal from a Phase 2 study. Results support further investigation but do not establish standard‑of‑care therapy.
Repeated fecal microbiota transplants from healthy donors improved motor symptoms and constipation in drug‑naïve patients with early Parkinson’s disease, according to a randomized Phase 2 trial. Benefits were sustained for up to 35 weeks and accompanied by measurable changes in gut microbiota and related biomarkers.
Clinical Considerations
- Motor scores improved by a mean of 3.8 points on UPDRS Part III in treated patients, with minimal change in controls.
- Nearly 46% of treated participants achieved a clinically meaningful motor improvement, compared with 21% in controls.
- Constipation severity and overall gastrointestinal symptom burden improved early and remained better through week 35.
- Donor transplants reduced Escherichia and Shigella, correlating with milder motor and gastrointestinal symptoms.
Practice Applications
- Recognize microbiome modulation as an emerging research approach rather than a replacement for dopaminergic therapy.
- Consider nonmotor symptom response when evaluating adjunctive strategies in early Parkinson’s.
- Avoid clinical adoption outside research settings pending larger, multicenter trials.
- Monitor ongoing studies refining delivery methods and identifying patient subgroups most likely to benefit.
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