- Researchers report that gut microbiota might play a role in the development of Alzheimer’s disease.
- They say gut bacteria transferred from humans into rats produced some signs of dementia in the animals.
- The researchers said they hope their findings can eventually help in the development of methods to diagnose Alzheimer’s earlier.
Scientists are reporting that gut microbiota may play a role in the development Alzheimer’s disease, according to a new study published in the journal Brain.
In their study, the researchers transferred gut bacteria, via fecal transplants, from individuals with Alzheimer’s disease to young, healthy rats.
The researchers reported that after the transplants the animals showed some signs of dementia, including producing fewer new nerve cells and exhibiting impaired memory.
The study authors note that people with Alzheimer’s usually do not receive a diagnosis until after the onset of cognitive symptoms. Earlier diagnosis would allow treatments to start sooner.
“Alzheimer’s is an insidious condition that there is yet no effective treatment for. This study represents an important step forward in our understanding of the disease, confirming that the make-up of our gut microbiota has a causal role in the development of the disease,” said Dr. Sandrine Thuret, a professor of Neuroscience at King’s College London and one of the study’s senior authors, in a press statement. “This collaborative research has laid the groundwork for future research into this area and my hope is that it will lead to potential advances in therapeutic interventions.”
More than 6 million people in the United States live with Alzheimer’s disease and that is projected to increase to 13 million by 2050.
Alzheimer’s disease is the most common type of dementia, according to the
It affects parts of the brain that control…
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