Researchers have actually observed an association in between raised levels of amyloid-beta and tau in the brain and lowered levels of 2 neuroprotective germs in the gastrointestinal system, offering more proof of a connection in between gut health and brain health.
“This research study enhances the concept that the accumulation of amyloid-beta/tau in middle-aged and cognitively regular people are connected with modifications in the gut microbiome and function,” research study detective Yannick Joel Wadop Ngouongo, PhD, with UT Health San Antonio, Texas, informed Medscape Medical News.
The research study existed at the Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2023.
Neuroprotective Effects
Recent research study recommends imbalances in gut microbiota might add to the pathogenesis of neurological conditions, consisting of Alzheimer’s disease (ADVERTISEMENT). However, whether amyloid-beta and tau deposits, trademarks of advertisement, are connected with shifts in gut microbiota structure have actually not been well studied.
The scientists analyzed the link in between gut microbiome structure and amyloid-beta positron emission tomography (ANIMAL) and tau-PET steps in 140 cognitively healthy, middle-aged grownups from the Framingham Heart Study (indicate age, 56 years; 54% ladies).
Multivariable analysis revealed a considerable association (changed P < .001) between amyloid-beta-PET and tau-PET levels and lower levels of Butyricicoccus and Ruminococcus, two types of bacteria that are thought to have anti-inflammatory effects.
Differential abundance analysis revealed a “lower than expected” abundance of these bacteria in the rhinal cortex and inferior temporal cortex in individuals with elevated amyloid-beta-PET and tau-PET measures.
Functional analysis showed that Butyricicoccus and Ruminococcus are butyrate-producing bacteria that also harbor neuroprotective effects.
“These findings begin to reveal more specific connections between our gut and our brain. For example, we believe that the reduction of certain identified bacteria may increase gut permeability and the transport of toxic metabolites in the brain, thus increasing amyloid-beta and tau deposition,” Ngouongo said in a statement.
“Clinicians should be aware that gut structure and function are intimately linked to brain health,” Ngouongo added. He also noted that it’s possible that clinical interventions that restore gut homeostasis could result in less amyloid-beta/tau accumulation and better brain health.
Interconnected Systems
Commenting on the study for Medscape Medical News, Percy Griffin, PhD, director of scientific engagement at the Alzheimer’s Association, said the study is noteworthy in that it starts to “define specific gut bacteria that may be associated with increased risk of dementia.”
“It’s so interesting to see how impactful gut bacteria might be to cognitive health. And these findings are just beginning to help us unearth some of those details, but we still have a lot to learn,” Griffin said.
The Alzheimer’s Association is leading a 2-year clinical trial, US Pointer, to examine the impact of behavioral interventions on the gut-brain axis to better understand how engaging in healthier habits impacts microorganisms in the gut and how changes in gut bacteria relate to brain health.
“Our body systems are all interconnected. When one system is malfunctioning, it impacts other systems. When that dysfunction isn’t addressed, it can create a waterfall of consequences for the rest of the body,” Heather M. Snyder, PhD, vice president of medical and scientific relations at the Alzheimer’s Association, said in a conference statement.
Gaining a better understanding of the connection between the digestive system and long-term cognitive function “may uncover novel therapeutic and risk-reduction approaches for Alzheimer’s and other dementias,” Snyder noted.
The study was funded by the US National Institutes of Health. Ngouongo, Percy, and Snyder report no relevant financial relationships.
Alzheimer’s Association International Conference (AAIC) 2023. Abstract 74962. Presented July 19, 2023.
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