A study published in Neurobiology of Disease () investigated the link between neuroinflammation, gut microbiota changes, and butyrate depletion in Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Neuroinflammation plays a key role in AD progression, and free water (FW) imaging, which measures extracellular water content, serves as a marker for this process. Meanwhile, gut microbiota alterations, particularly the decline of butyrate-producing bacteria, have been implicated in neurodegeneration.
Methods & Key Findings
- Study Population: 56 participants (19 cognitively normal controls, 19 MCI, 18 AD).
- Higher FW Levels in AD/MCI: Increased FW in gray and white matter, especially in frontal, temporal, limbic, and paralimbic regions, correlated with worse cognitive function.
- Gut Dysbiosis & Butyrate Reduction: FW levels were negatively correlated with the decline of butyrate-producing bacteria (Anaerostipes, Lachnospiraceae UCG-004, [Ruminococcus] gnavus).
This study highlights a potential gut-brain axis in AD, where neuroinflammation (measured by FW) is linked to gut dysbiosis and reduced butyrate producers. The findings suggest that targeting the gut microbiota, possibly through dietary or probiotic interventions, could be a strategy to mitigate neuroinflammation in AD and MCI.