Evaluation of the disease-modifying effects of Aureobasidium pullulans AFO-202 strain produced Beta-Glucan in Parkinsons disease - Results of a pilot clinical study

The aetiology of Parkinsons disease (PD) has been linked to the aggregation and spread of misfolded alpha-synuclein via the gut-brain axis. We previously reported the effects of a biological response modifier, beta-glucan, produced by the AFO-202 strain of Aureobasidium Pullulans, which improves clinical symptoms and controls gut Enterobacteriaceae associated with curli and amyloid-alpha-synuclein production. In this study, we report the effects of beta-glucan on PD. Eight patients with PD were recruited, five of whom completed the study. Each participant was administered 3 g of AFO-202 B-glucan orally daily for 90 days in addition to their regular prescription drugs. Pre- and post-study comparison revealed that the mean UPDRS decreased from 43.25 {+/-} 13.75 at baseline to 40 {+/-} 13.65 post intervention. Improvements in cognition, walking and balance, postural stability, and constipation scales were observed. The mean constipation severity score decreased from 3 {+/-} 1.73 to 1.75 {+/-} 0.43 post intervention. The serum creatinine kinase levels decreased and the blood glucose and lipid levels normalised. The MRI Parkinsons index (MRPI) improved in one patient. This safe AFO-202 B-glucan produced beneficial disease-modifying improvements in the UPDRS and MRI that were clinically significant in the short timeframe of 90 days. Further validation in larger, longer-term clinical trials will help confirm the use of beta-glucan as a potential adjuvant treatment for PD which may pave way for future evaluations of these beta-glucans in other synculeinopathies as well Lewy-body related pathogenesis.