Key points from article :
Imbalance in the gut microbiome may be related to the onset of Alzheimer’s disease.
Shift in bacterial diversity is linked with high numbers of amyloid plaques in the brain- a hallmark of the condition.
Drugs that can modulate gut microbiome have been used to treat Alzheimer’s.
PET imaging measured amyloid plaque buildup and inflammation markers in the blood of 89 people aged 65-85 both with & without Alzheimer’s.
“Certain bacterial products of the intestinal microbiota are correlated with the quantity of amyloid plaques in the brain,” - Dr Marizzoni, first author.
This can help uncover new pathways for treatment such as a bacterial cocktail that boosts "good" bacteria.
However, this relationship may also be used with a view to prevention rather than therapy.
Research by University of Geneva published in Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
