Title:Disruptions of Gut Microbiota are Associated with Cognitive Deficit of
Preclinical Alzheimer's Disease: A Cross-Sectional Study
Volume: 20
Issue: 12
Author(s): Binbin Yu, Guomeng Wan, Shupeng Cheng, Pengcheng Wen, Xi Yang, Jiahuan Li, Huifang Tian, Yaxin Gao, Qian Zhong, Jin Liu, Jianan Li*Yi Zhu*
Affiliation:
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
- Rehabilitation Medicine Center, The First Affiliated Hospital of Nanjing Medical University, Nanjing, China
Keywords:
Gut microbiota, Alzheimer's disease, cognitive deficit, machine learning, indicators, biomarkers.
Abstract:
Background: Alzheimer's Disease (AD) is the most prevalent type of dementia. The
early change of gut microbiota is a potential biomarker for preclinical AD patients.
Objective: The study aimed to explore changes in gut microbiota characteristics in preclinical AD
patients, including those with Subjective Cognitive Decline (SCD) and Mild Cognitive Impairment
(MCI), and detect the correlation between gut microbiota characteristics and cognitive performances.
Methods: This study included 117 participants [33 MCI, 54 SCD, and 30 Healthy Controls (HC)].
We collected fresh fecal samples and blood samples from all participants and evaluated their cognitive
performance. We analyzed the diversity and structure of gut microbiota in all participants
through qPCR, screened characteristic microbial species through machine learning models, and explored
the correlations between these species and cognitive performances and serum indicators.
Results: Compared to the healthy controls, the structure of gut microbiota in MCI and SCD patients
was significantly different. The three characteristic microorganisms, including Bacteroides
ovatus, Bifidobacterium adolescentis, and Roseburia inulinivorans, were screened based on the
best classification model (HC and MCI) having intergroup differences. Bifidobacterium adolescentis
is associated with better performance in multiple cognitive scores and several serum indicators.
Roseburia inulinivorans showed negative correlations with the scores of the Functional Activities
Questionnaire (FAQ).
Conclusion: The gut microbiota in patients with preclinical AD has significantly changed in terms
of composition and richness. Correlations have been discovered between changes in characteristic
species and cognitive performances. Gut microbiota alterations have shown promise in affecting
AD pathology and cognitive deficit.