Khaberni - Recent scientific studies have revealed increasing evidence linking gut health and the development of Alzheimer's disease, which researchers describe as a new step towards understanding one of the most complex and widespread neurological diseases in the world.
Experiments conducted on animals have shown that Alzheimer's can be transmitted to young mice through the transfer of gut microbes, further supporting the hypothesis of a direct link between the digestive system and brain health.
This idea is supported by a study, pointing out that inflammation could be the main mechanism linking both aspects, according to "Scientific Reports" journal.
Psychologist at the University of Wisconsin, Barbara Bendlin, said that people with Alzheimer's have higher levels of intestinal inflammation, noting that brain imaging has shown that patients with greater intestinal inflammation also suffer from a higher accumulation of amyloid plaques in their brains, one of the distinct features of the disease.
In the course of the research, pathologist Margo Histon and an international team of scientists measured levels of fecal calprotectin, a biomarker of inflammation, in stool samples from 125 participants selected from two Alzheimer's prevention studies.
The participants underwent cognitive tests, interviews about family history, genetic testing for hereditary risk factors, in addition to clinical tests to detect amyloid protein accumulations in some of them.
The results showed that calprotectin levels were generally higher in older adults, but increased more clearly in people who showed amyloid plaques associated with Alzheimer's disease.
It was also observed that elevated inflammation markers were accompanied by an increase in biomarkers of the disease and a decline in memory test results, even among participants who had not been formally diagnosed with Alzheimer's.
Researchers speculate that changes in the gut microbiome may lead to chronic low-grade inflammation in the body, causing gradual damage that affects the efficiency of biological barriers.
And said, bacteriologist at the University of Wisconsin, Federico Rey, that increased intestinal permeability may allow inflammatory molecules and toxins to pass into the bloodstream, potentially weakening the blood-brain barrier and enhancing neuroinflammation and neurodegeneration.
