'Gut health may affect probability of acquiring Alzheimer's in brain'

LAS VEGAS: Could altering your diet help to delay the onset of dementia or perhaps prevent it? Thanks to a recent UNLV study that supports the long-suspected connection between intestinal health and Alzheimer's disease, we're one step closer to learning. 

The analysis, conducted by a group of scientists from UNLV's Nevada Institute of Personalised Medicine (NIPM), was published this spring in the Nature Journal Scientific Reports. It looked at data from dozens of prior investigations investigating the relationship between the stomach and the brain. The outcomes? Specific types of gut bacteria and Alzheimer's disease are closely related.

The volume and variety of the 500-1,000 different bacterial species that live in the human gut at any given moment can be altered by genetics and food. 

The UNLV team's analysis found a significant correlation between 10 specific types of gut bacteria and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. 

Six categories of bacteria -- Adlercreutzia, Eubacterium nodatum group, Eisenbergiella, Eubacterium fissicatena group, Gordonibacter, and Prevotella9 -- were identified as protective, and four types of bacteria -- Collinsella, Bacteroides, Lachnospira, and Veillonella -- were identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Certain bacteria in humans' guts can secrete acids and toxins that thin and seep through the intestinal lining, interact with the APOE (a gene identified as a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease), and trigger a neuroinflammatory response -- affecting brain health and numerous immune functions, and potentially promoting the development of the neurodegenerative disorder.

Researchers said their novel discovery of the distinct bacterial groups associated with Alzheimer's disease provides new insights into the relationship between gut microbiota and the world's most common form of dementia. The findings also advance scientists' understanding of how an imbalance of that bacteria may play a role in the disorder's development. 

"Most of the microorganisms in our intestines are considered good bacteria that promote health, but an imbalance of those bacteria can be toxic to a person's immune system and linked to various diseases, such as depression, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease," said UNLV research professor Jingchun Chen. "The take-home message here is that your genes not only determine whether you have a risk for a disease, but they can also influence the abundance of bacteria in your gut." 

While their analysis established overarching categories of bacteria typically associated with Alzheimer's disease, the UNLV team said further research is needed to drill down into the specific bacterial species that influence risk or protection. 

The hope is to one day develop treatments that are customized for the individual patient and their genetic makeup, such as medications or lifestyle changes. Studies have shown that changes in gut microbiome through probiotic use and dietary adjustments can positively impact the immune system, inflammation, and even brain function. 

"With more research, it would be possible to identify a genetic trajectory that could point to a gut microbiome that would be more or less prone to developing diseases such as Alzheimer's," said study lead author and UNLV graduate student Davis Cammann, "but we also have to remember that the gut biome is influenced by many factors including lifestyle and diet."