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Review
. 2024 Dec 3;14(12):1224.
doi: 10.3390/brainsci14121224.

A Review of the Consequences of Gut Microbiota in Neurodegenerative Disorders and Aging

Amanda A Menezes  1 , Zahoor A Shah  1
Affiliations
Review

A Review of the Consequences of Gut Microbiota in Neurodegenerative Disorders and Aging

Amanda A Menezes et al. Brain Sci. .

Abstract

Age-associated alterations in the brain lead to cognitive deterioration and neurodegenerative disorders (NDDs). This review with a particular focus on Alzheimer's disease (AD), emphasizes the burgeoning significance of the gut microbiota (GMB) in neuroinflammation and its impact on the gut-brain axis (GBA), a communication conduit between the gut and the central nervous system (CNS). Changes in the gut microbiome, including diminished microbial diversity and the prevalence of pro-inflammatory bacteria, are associated with AD pathogenesis. Promising therapies, such as fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), probiotics, and prebiotics, may restore gut health and enhance cognitive performance. Clinical data remain insufficient, necessitating further research to elucidate causes, enhance therapy, and consider individual variances. This integrative approach may yield innovative therapies aimed at the GMB to improve cognitive function and brain health in older people.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; cognitive decline; fecal microbiota transplantation; gut microbiota; gut–brain axis; microbial therapies; neurodegenerative diseases (NDDs); neuroinflammation; prebiotics; probiotics.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Relationship between gut microbiome and central nervous system functioning in neurological disorders. Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 2
Figure 2
The hypothesis posits that environmental factors such as nutrition, sleep, and exercise, along with genetic predispositions, contribute to an inflammatory milieu inside the gut microbiota (GBM), resulting in alterations in composition and diversity over time. These alterations affect metabolites originating from the GMB and peripheral immunity, modifying the blood-brain barrier (BBB) and central nervous system (CNS) cell types, potentially influencing AD. Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Mechanisms for bidirectional communication in the gut–brain axis (GBA). Created with BioRender.com.
Figure 4
Figure 4
Strategies to alter the GMB for treating neurodegenerative illnesses encompass dietary modifications, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). These approaches alter microbial populations and generate compounds such as neurotransmitters and short-chain fatty acids, facilitating neuroprotective effects. Created with BioRender.com.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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