Imagine your brain is a bustling city, filled with intricate structures and pathways. Now imagine that this city is connected to another city – your gut! Recent research has shown that the health of your gut microbiota, the community of microorganisms in your digestive system, may be linked to changes in your brain’s structure. In a study called SILCODE, scientists analyzed the microbiota of individuals across the Alzheimer’s disease spectrum. They found that specific bacteria were associated with cognitive decline and alterations in brain anatomy such as gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid volume. These connections suggest that targeting the gut microbiota could be a promising therapeutic strategy for early Alzheimer’s. Co-expression network analysis also revealed interactions between the gut, brain, and cognition. This study adds to the growing recognition of the gut-brain connection in Alzheimer’s disease and highlights the potential for novel treatments that focus on improving gut health. If you’re curious to learn more about this fascinating research, delve into the full article!

BackgroundThe correlation between gut microbiota and Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is increasingly being recognized by clinicians. However, knowledge about the gut–brain–cognition interaction remains largely unknown.MethodsOne hundred and twenty-seven participants, including 35 normal controls (NCs), 62 with subjective cognitive decline (SCD), and 30 with cognitive impairment (CI), were included in this study. The participants underwent neuropsychological assessments and fecal microbiota analysis through 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) Illumina Miseq sequencing technique. Structural MRI data were analyzed for cortical anatomical features, including thickness, sulcus depth, fractal dimension, and Toro’s gyrification index using the SBM method. The association of altered gut microbiota among the three groups with structural MRI metrics and cognitive function was evaluated. Furthermore, co-expression network analysis was conducted to investigate the gut–brain–cognition interactions.ResultsThe abundance of Lachnospiraceae, Lachnospiracea_incertae_sedis, Fusicatenibacter, and Anaerobutyricum decreased with cognitive ability. Rikenellaceae, Odoribacteraceae, and Alistipes were specifically enriched in the CI group. Mediterraneibacter abundance was correlated with changes in brain gray matter and cerebrospinal fluid volume (p = 0.0214, p = 0.0162) and significantly with changes in cortical structures in brain regions, such as the internal olfactory area and the parahippocampal gyrus. The three colonies enriched in the CI group were positively correlated with cognitive function and significantly associated with changes in cortical structure related to cognitive function, such as the precuneus and syrinx gyrus.ConclusionThis study provided evidence that there was an inner relationship among the altered gut microbiota, brain atrophy, and cognitive decline. Targeting the gut microbiota may be a novel therapeutic strategy for early AD.

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