The intestinal microbiota as an ally in the treatment of Alzheimer's disease

Abstract

The evolution of the understanding of the intestinal microbiota and its influence on our organism leverages it as a potential protagonist in therapies aimed at diseases that affect not only the intestine but also neural pathways and the central nervous system itself. This study, developed from a thorough systematic review, sought to demonstrate the influence of the intervention on the intestinal microbiota in subjects with Alzheimer's disease. Clinical trials using different classes of probiotics have depicted noteworthy remission of symptoms, whose measurement was performed based on screenings and scores applied before, during, and after the period of probiotics use, allowing the observation of changes in functionality and symptomatology of patients. On the other hand, faecal microbiota transplantation requires further validation through clinical trials, even though it has already been reported in case studies as promising from the symptomatology point of view. The current compilation of studies made it possible to demonstrate the potential influence of the intestinal microbiota on Alzheimer's pathology. However, new clinical studies with a larger number of participants are needed to obtain further clarification on pathophysiological correlations.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s; gut–brain axis; microbiota; pathophysiology; patients.