Gut health linked to Alzheimer's disease progression, study suggests diet is a potential treatment

In a recent study published in the journal nutrients, a team of Australian researchers conducted a study to understand the species-level diversity of the gut microbiome and its role in Alzheimer's disease pathology. They also investigated how confounding factors such as prebiotics, probiotics, and diet influence different stages of Alzheimer's disease.

Research: The role of diet and the gut microbiome in Alzheimer's disease. Image credit: Design_Cells / Shutterstock

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Alzheimer's disease is a neurodegenerative disease characterized by progressive cognitive impairment that affects daily life and function. These cognitive disorders affect abilities such as decision-making, memory, problem-solving, thinking, and motor skills, and are often accompanied by dramatic personality changes. Cognitive decline is thought to be due to the formation of amyloid-beta plaques and hyperphosphorylation of tau neurofibrillary tangles, which also lead to inflammation.

Recent research also found that the gut microbiome-brain axis plays a key role in influencing the risk of mental health disorders such as depression and various neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer's disease. doing. People with mild cognitive impairment and Alzheimer's disease have been found to have lower gut microbiota diversity indices compared to healthy controls.

A variety of factors such as age, genetics, diet, and antibiotic use are known to influence the gut microbiome, and the potential relationship between these factors, the gut microbiome, and Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the interactions between may aid in early identification of at-risk individuals. The onset of a disease.

Alzheimer's disease and gut microbiota

In this review, researchers discussed the incidence of Alzheimer's disease worldwide and in Australia. It also revealed the incidence of dementia and early-onset dementia, as well as the risk of death related to dementia. According to a US study, annual medical costs related to Alzheimer's disease and dementia exceed US$600 billion and are expected to increase significantly by 2030.

This review includes a detailed discussion on the formation of amyloid-beta plaques in the brain, starting from orbitofrontal, temporal, and basal neocortical regions and ultimately spreading to the amygdala, basal ganglia, and hippocampus, including What is known about pathology is also covered. and diencephalon.

A number of hypotheses have been proposed to explain the mechanisms by which amyloid-β peptide and tau neurofibrillary tangles contribute to neurodegeneration in Alzheimer's disease, including tau neurofibrillary tangles and hyperphosphorylation of the amyloid cascade. In addition to these hypotheses, this review also expanded on other potential mechanisms such as mitochondrial dysfunction, oxidative stress, and neuroinflammation.

Studies investigating the association between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer's disease have reported associations between specific gut microbes and various levels of Alzheimer's disease biomarkers in the cerebrospinal fluid. Other studies have found a link between the composition of the gut microbiome and amyloid peptide levels in the brain. The researchers presented a detailed discussion of existing research on the association between specific gut microbes and various pathological aspects of Alzheimer's disease.

Diet, gut microbiota, and Alzheimer's disease

The fact that diet plays a pivotal role in influencing the composition and diversity of the gut microbiota is a well-documented finding. The composition of the gut microbiome can also be altered by certain dietary patterns and the intake of various supplements, which in turn may influence the gut-brain axis and influence Alzheimer's disease pathology. there is.

In this review, we have extensively discussed the role of different dietary components such as protein, fiber, fat, and polyphenols, as well as different dietary patterns that influence the environment and composition of the gut microbiome. They also reported on a study that found that cognitive function in Alzheimer's patients improved significantly after certain dietary patterns, including the ketogenic diet, the Mediterranean diet, and diets targeting hypertension and neurodegeneration.

The researchers also found that although research into the use of prebiotic and probiotic supplements as a treatment option for Alzheimer's disease is still limited, the use of prebiotics and probiotics, and combinations of the two, is promising. Modifying Alzheimer's disease progression and associated neuropathology.

conclusion

In summary, this review comprehensively surveys existing research on the interactions between diet, gut microbiota, and Alzheimer's disease pathology. This finding suggests that dysbiosis is strongly associated with the progression of Alzheimer's disease pathology and presents a potential avenue for non-invasive treatment and risk modification.