Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia, and is characterized by the loss of memory and other cognitive abilities, a deterioration that progresses to the point of disabling the patient, who loses the ability to carry out daily activities, and even taking care of his personal hygiene or eating for himself.
Discovering the possible risk factors that influence a person developing Alzheimer’s is very important to prevent or delay its onset and, of course, to develop effective treatments. Now, and for the first time, a team of scientists has discovered that the symptoms of Alzheimer’s can be transferred to a young, healthy organism through the intestinal microbiota, confirming that this group of microorganisms is involved in some way in the disease. .
The results of the study have been published in the journal Brain and show that the intestinal microbiome – a set of microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, protozoa, archaea…) that reside in the intestine and their genetic interactions – is a fundamental objective in research on the Alzheimer’s because it is determined by lifestyle habits and environmental factors.
“Animals with intestinal bacteria from people with Alzheimer’s produced fewer new nerve cells and had impaired memory”
The research has been led by Professor Yvonne Nolan, from APC Microbiome Ireland, a research center based at University College Cork (UCC), and the Department of Anatomy and Neuroscience at UCC, together with Professor Sandrine Thuret at Kings College London and Dr Annamaria Cattaneo from ICS Fatebenefratelli (Italy).
Abundance of pro-inflammatory bacteria in patients with Alzheimer’s
The researchers found that memory deficits in people with Alzheimer’s could be transferred to young animals through intestinal microbiota transplantation. Alzheimer’s patients had a greater abundance of bacteria that promoted inflammation in fecal samples, and these changes were directly associated with their cognitive status.
“The memory tests we investigate are based on the growth of new nerve cells in the hippocampal region of the brain. We saw that animals with intestinal bacteria from people with Alzheimer’s produced fewer new nerve cells and had impaired memory,” explained Professor Yvonne Nolan.
“People with Alzheimer’s are typically diagnosed when cognitive symptoms manifest, a time when it may be too late, at least for current therapeutic approaches. Understanding the role of intestinal microbes during the prodrome (precursor signs of the disease) or early-stage dementia, before the possible appearance of symptoms, may open avenues for the development of a new therapy, or even individualized intervention. , Add.
Sandrine Thuret, Professor of Neuroscience at Kings College London and one of the lead authors of the study, said: “Alzheimer’s disease is an insidious condition for which there is still no effective treatment. This study represents an important step forward in our understanding of the disease, confirming that the composition of our intestinal microbiota has a causal role in the development of the disease. “This collaborative research has laid the foundation for future research in this area, and my hope is that it will lead to potential advances in therapeutic interventions.”
