2. Academic Validation
  3. Butyrate improves abnormal sleep architecture in a Parkinson's disease mouse model via BDNF/TrkB signaling

Butyrate improves abnormal sleep architecture in a Parkinson's disease mouse model via BDNF/TrkB signaling

  • NPJ Parkinsons Dis. 2025 Jun 19;11(1):175. doi: 10.1038/s41531-025-01029-5.
Wen-Xiang Duan 1 2,  Wei-Ye Xie 1 2,  Chen Ying 1,  Wang Fen 1 2,  Xiao-Yu Cheng 1,  Cheng-Jie Mao 1 2,  Jun-Yi Liu 3,  Chun-Feng Liu 4 5
Affiliations

Affiliations

  • 1 Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China.
  • 2 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China.
  • 3 Department of Neurology, The Fourth Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215125, China. jyliu911@suda.edu.cn.
  • 4 Department of Neurology and Clinical Research Center of Neurological Disease, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou, 215004, China. liuchunfeng@suda.edu.cn.
  • 5 Jiangsu Key Laboratory of Neuropsychiatric Diseases and Institute of Neuroscience, Soochow University, Suzhou, 215123, China. liuchunfeng@suda.edu.cn.
PMID: 40537481 DOI: 10.1038/s41531-025-01029-5
Abstract

Sleep disturbances are among the most prevalent non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease (PD), yet their underlying mechanisms remain inadequately understood. Emerging evidence has emphasized a strong association between gut health and sleep stability, with notable early alterations in microbial composition and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) levels observed during the progression of PD. Consequently, targeting the gut as a therapeutic strategy for sleep disturbances in PD has become a focus of our research. In this study, we demonstrated that a subacute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tetrahydropyridine (MPTP)-induced PD mouse model exhibited a marked reduction in daytime sleep alongside an increase in nighttime sleep. Microbial Sequencing and SCFA profiling revealed a significant decline in butyrate levels and the abundance of butyrate-producing bacteria. Correlation analysis indicated a significant positive correlation between butyrate levels and the duration of daytime non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep. Furthermore, supplementation with butyrate effectively restored normal sleep architecture in MPTP-induced PD mice. Further mechanistic studies revealed that this effect is mediated through the BDNF-TrkB pathway. These findings suggest that direct or indirect supplementation with butyrate may be a potential therapeutic approach for improving sleep disorders in PD patients.

Figures
Products