NEW YORK, BRONX (ORDO News) — A groundbreaking study by an international team of scientists has confirmed the significant role of the gut microbiome in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. A study in which the gut microbiota of patients with Alzheimer’s disease was transplanted into healthy rats found that memory impairments associated with the disease can be passed on to young healthy individuals.
In addition to confirming the link between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s disease, the study also identified specific bacteria in the gut that are directly linked to cognitive decline in patients. This finding suggests that the gut microbiome is a critical area of research for Alzheimer’s disease and other forms of dementia, which could lead to the development of new treatment approaches.
Neuroscientist Yvonne Nolan from University College Cork (UCC) highlighted the importance of understanding the role of gut microbes in the early stages of dementia. She said: “Understanding the role of gut microbes in prodromal dementia may open up opportunities to develop new treatments or even tailored interventions.”
Previous evidence has pointed to a potential link between changes in the gut microbiota and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. However, this study provides concrete evidence that the gut microbiota plays a causative role in the development of symptoms associated with this disease.
Previously, data have been obtained indicating a possible connection between changes in the intestinal microbiota and the development of Alzheimer’s disease. However, this study provides concrete evidence that the gut microbiota plays a causative role in the development of symptoms associated with this disease.
Alzheimer’s disease is a devastating disease for which there is currently no effective treatment. Neurologist Sandrine Thuret from King’s College London (KCL) called the study an important step forward in our understanding of the disease.
The research team, which included scientists from UCC, KCL and the IRCCS Clinical Research Center of St. John of God in Bresci (Italy), set out to study how the gut microbiota of Alzheimer’s patients affects brain health and behavior.
The study involved 69 people with Alzheimer’s disease and 64 healthy people. All participants had blood samples taken for research, and some people in each group also had stool samples taken for gut microbiota analysis.
Researchers transplanted gut microbiota from patients with Alzheimer’s disease into young adult rats whose microbiome had been depleted of antibiotics. A control group of rats received intestinal microbiota from individuals from the healthy control group.
Ten days after transplantation, the rats underwent behavioral tests to assess memory and other traits associated with Alzheimer’s disease.
The results showed that rats that were transplanted with microbiomes from Alzheimer’s disease patients exhibited memory impairments, particularly those dependent on adult hippocampal neurogenesis. This process involves creating new neurons in the hippocampus, an area of the brain critical to memory and mood, and one of the first areas affected by Alzheimer’s disease.
Nolan further explained, “Animals containing gut bacteria from people with Alzheimer’s disease produce fewer new nerve cells and have poorer memory.” In addition, it was found that rats receiving gut microbiota from donors with lower cognitive test scores had greater impairments in hippocampal neurogenesis.
This groundbreaking study provides compelling evidence for the role of the gut microbiome in the development of Alzheimer’s disease. By shedding light on this connection, scientists hope to pave the way for the development of new therapeutic approaches and personalized interventions for people at risk of developing this disease.
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News agencies contributed to this report, edited and published by ORDO News editors.
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