In a recent study published in the journal Mechanisms of Ageing and Development, researchers explore the preventive and therapeutic potential of gut microbiome (GM) modulation in reducing the risk and improving symptoms of Alzheimer's disease (AD).
Intestinal dysbiosis and AD
GM dysbiosis occurs due to elevated levels of pathogenic or pro-inflammatory bacterial organisms that produce neurotoxins, accompanied by a reduction in protective or anti-inflammatory bacterial organisms that produce neurological compounds, including norepinephrine and tryptophan. This microbial imbalance can lead to cognitive impairment, elevated levels of enterotoxins, lipopolysaccharides, trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), pro-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines, increased deposition of amyloid fibers, as well as reduced levels of anti-inflammatory chemokines and cytokines and short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
The gut microbiome in AD management
The gut microbiota can be altered through dietary changes, probiotic and prebiotic supplementation, and certain therapies, such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). Other approaches, such as precision medicine, could also be used.
FMT for treating AD
FMT refers to the infusion of fecal matter from healthy donors into the gastrointestinal tracts of diseased individuals to modulate GM. FMT is an emerging therapy for AD and has been used successfully for Clostridium difficile infections, with cure rates of approximately 90%.
ConCluSIonS
The balance of gut microbiota is essential for the normal functioning of the human body. Patients with AD are associated with distinct microbial signatures. Thus, restoring the microbiota could reduce neurodegeneration and improve cognitive function among patients with AD. Furthermore, distinctive gut microbial profiles could help predict the risk of AD. Restoring the gut microbiota through dietary changes, probiotic supplementation, and FMT could also improve cognition and, as a result, offer potential therapeutic strategies for the treatment of AD.
