Researchers confirm correlation between gut microbiota imbalance and Alzheimer’s
Teams from the University of Geneva (UNIGE) and the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG), the National Center for Research and Care for Alzheimer’s and Psychiatric Diseases Fatebenefratelli de Brescia, the University of Naples and the Center IRCCS SDN research in Italy, confirm that there is a correlation between an imbalance of the gut microbiota and the development of amyloid plaques in the human brain.
Indeed, it has already been shown in previous studies that the intestinal microbiota was altered in patients with Alzheimer’s. In addition, patients with this pathology suffer from an inflammatory phenomenon of the blood. This is why the researchers wanted to know if the inflammation of the blood could constitute a mediator between the microbiota and the brain.
To confirm this hypothesis, they studied a cohort of 89 people aged 65 to 85, some with Alzheimer’s disease or other neurodegenerative diseases causing similar memory problems, and others without any memory impairment.
Result: research proves that there is indeed a link between certain proteins in the intestinal microbiota and cerebral amyloidosis through an inflammatory phenomenon in the blood.
Consider new preventive strategies for people at risk
According to the authors of the study, these results could make it possible to consider new preventive strategies for people at risk. In a press release from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), we can read as follows: “ This discovery paves the way for potentially very innovative protective strategies – through the administration of a bacterial cocktail for example, or prebiotics in order to nourish the “good” bacteria in our intestines. “.
However, ” however, do not rejoice too quickly »As underlined by Prof. Giovanni Frisoni, doctor in charge of the memory consultation at the University Hospitals of Geneva (HUG). Indeed, UNIGE recalls that “ this neuroprotective effect could only be effective at a very early stage of the disease, with a view to prevention rather than therapy. However, early diagnosis is still today one of the main challenges in the management of neurodegenerative diseases, because protocols must be developed to identify people at high risk in order to treat them well before the onset of symptoms. detectable. “
