Alzheimer’s disease is a neurological ailment that causes a steady decline in cognitive function. In recent years, there has been a surge of interest in research into the links between the gut microbiota and different aspects of health, including neurological health.
A relationship has been discovered between gut bacteria, inflammation, and brain abnormalities associated with Alzheimer’s disease, according to research. The findings imply that Alzheimer’s symptoms can be passed on through the gut flora.
The gut microbiota and Alzheimer’s disease have been linked by researchers. Researchers have discovered for the first time that Alzheimer’s symptoms can be transferred to a healthy young organism via the gut microbiota, proving its role in the illness.
The research was led by Professor Yvonne Nolan, APC Microbiome Ireland, a world leading SFI funded resarch centre based at University College Cork (UCC), and the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience, UCC, with Professor Sandrine Thuret at King’s College London and Dr Annamaria Cattaneo IRCCS Fatebenefratelli, Italy.
The memory tests we investigated rely on the growth of new nerve cells in the hippocampus region of the brain. We saw that animals with gut bacteria from people with Alzheimer’s produced fewer new nerve cells and had impaired memory.
Professor Yvonne Nolan
Because of its special susceptibility to lifestyle and environmental effects, the study supports the development of the gut microbiota as a crucial focus for exploration in Alzheimer’s disease. The study, published in Brain, indicates that memory problems in Alzheimer’s patients can be transferred to young animals by gut microbiota transplantation.
Alzheimer’s patients showed a larger abundance of inflammation-promoting bacteria in their feces, and these alterations were directly related to their cognitive condition.
Professor Yvonne Nolan said: “The memory tests we investigated rely on the growth of new nerve cells in the hippocampus region of the brain. We saw that animals with gut bacteria from people with Alzheimer’s produced fewer new nerve cells and had impaired memory.”
“People with Alzheimer’s are typically diagnosed at or after the onset of cognitive symptoms, which may be too late, at least for current therapeutic approaches. Understanding the role of gut microbes during prodromal — or early stage- dementia, before the potential onset of symptoms may open avenues for new therapy development, or even individualized intervention,” said Professor Nolan.
Alzheimer’s is the most common cause of dementia, a general term for memory loss and other cognitive abilities serious enough to interfere with daily life. As our population ages, one in three people born today are likely to develop Alzheimer’s. Funded by Science Foundation Ireland, scientists in UCC are working to develop strategies to promote healthy brain ageing and advance treatments for Alzheimer’s by exploring how the gut microbiota respond to lifestyle influences like diet and exercise.
“Alzheimer’s is an insidious condition for which there is currently no effective treatment,” said Professor Sandrine Thuret, Professor of Neuroscience at King’s College London and one of the study’s senior authors. This work is a crucial step forward in our understanding of the disease, revealing that the composition of our gut microbiota plays a causal role in its development. This collaborative research has paved the way for future research in this area, and my goal is that it will result in potential advancements in therapeutic approaches.”
The research was conducted by Dr Stefanie Grabrucker, a postdoctoral researcher working with Professor Nolan, in partnership with postdoctoral colleagues Dr Edina Silajdzic at King’s College London and Dr Moira Marizzoni, IRCCS Fatebenefratelli, Italy. UCC collaborators were Professor Cora O’Neill, Dr Olivia O’Leary, Dr Sarah Nicolas, Dr Jane English, Mr Sebastian Dohm-Hansen and Dr Aonghus Lavelle.
“I’m delighted to be involved in this exciting study that further enhances our understanding of the significant role played by the gut microbiome in brain related diseases, such as Alzheimer’s, and recognizes UCC and APC Microbiome Ireland as leading institutions in microbiome and brain health research,” said Professor. John F. Cryan, UCC Vice President for Research and Innovation, who was also involved in this research. This research is consistent with our UCC Futures Framework and the University’s strategic strategy in the areas of Food, Microbiome, and Health, as well as the soon-to-be-launched Future Ageing and Brain Science.”
