On possible practical applications of the gut microbiome research in the prevention, diagnosis, assessment of, and treatment modification for multiple sclerosis in patients from risk groups

Research into the gut microbiota (GM) in multiple sclerosis (MS) has the potential to lead to a number of practical applications in the prevention, diagnosis, assessment of, and treatment modification for, MS. Four most promising areas include biomarkers, treatment personalization, drug development as well as disease prevention and mitigation. Changes in the GM have been observed in individuals with MS; analysis of the GM composition may help to identify individuals at risk of developing the disease or to monitor disease progression. Dietary interventions aimed at improving gut health could be used as a complementary approach to traditional MS treatments in order to reduce inflammation thereby potentially improving MS symptoms and lessening disease progression. Differences in the GM between individuals with MS suggest that personalized treatment approaches based on an individual's microbiome composition could be effective. Manipulating the GM could therefore be a potential avenue for drug development in MS. In addition, the exploration of bacteria or bacterial metabolites as therapeutic agents to modulate the immune system and reduce inflammation is also promising. Such explorations may even help identify strategies for preventing the development of MS in at-risk individuals. Overall, practical applications of gut microbiome research in MS are still in the early stages and further research is needed to fully understand the mechanisms underlying the relationship between the gut microbiome and MS and to determine the most effective interventions for improving gut health in individuals with the disease.