When Gut Bacteria May Be an Early Sign of Alzheimer ’ s Disease

When it comes to a disease as complex as Alzheimer’s, scientists have found a number of factors that can contribute to your risk, from genes to circulatory issues, inflammation, and lifestyle behaviors. In a new study published in Science Translational Medicine, researchers from Washington University in St. Louis report on another possible factor: the types of bacteria living in the gut. Experiencing changes in gut bacteria populations may be an early marker for developing the disease, the scientists found. These differences can often begin years before the first symptoms of cognitive decline, such as memory loss and confusion, appear. [time-brightcove not-tgx=”true”] The study involved 164 older people, from ages 68 to 94, who were tested for the presence of the Alzheimer’s proteins amyloid and tau in their brains. Participants also completed cognitive tests so that the researchers could identify people with preclinical Alzheimer’s: those who did not yet show signs of cognitive decline but did have signs of amyloid or tau. Using fecal samples, the scientists then compared the bacteria found in the guts of the 49 preclinical Alzheimer’s patients to people who did not have signs of the Alzheimer’s proteins to see if their microbiomes were different. More from TIME [video id=fEegRCQ7 autostart="viewable"] “We were starting to see changes in different organisms in people with preclinical Alzheimer’s,” says Dr. Beau An...
Source: TIME: Health - Category: Consumer Health News Authors: Tags: Uncategorized Disease healthscienceclimate Source Type: news