Comorbidity of inflammatory bowel diseases and Parkinson’s disease

The research and publications of the last decade have radically changed traditional medical concepts and our understanding of the possible interrelationship/comorbidity of organs and body systems. A lot of research is devoted to studying the relationship between the gut microbiome and various diseases. Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and Parkinson’s disease (PD) are chronic inflammatory diseases that are increasingly affecting millions of people worldwide, posing a major public health challenge. We searched the Pubmed and Scopus information databases for articles published before 04/01/2025 that examined the relationship between IBD and PD. Epidemiological studies and meta-analyses demonstrate the relationship between inflammatory bowel disease and Parkinson’s disease. Possible mechanisms of this relationship include changes in the intestinal microbiota, interaction along the gut-brain axis, and common molecular genetic mechanisms, the most interesting example being LRRK2 (leucine-rich repeat kinase 2), which was initially identified as a causative gene in Parkinson’s disease, and then its involvement in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel diseases was established. The presented review suggests the need for further prospective studies to clarify the relationship between inflammatory bowel diseases and Parkinson’s disease. The review highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches in understanding the systemic consequences of changes in the gut microbiota in inflammatory bowel diseases and their potential impact on brain health. The modulation of the gut microbiome, taking into account their possible impact on Parkinson’s disease, has a promising potential for improving prevention and treatment through innovative therapeutic strategies, especially in comorbid patients.

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