2023-06-14 21:00:00
A study has been published showing that different types of bacteria and other microorganisms live in the intestines of people with dementia in the early stages than in the intestines of people who do not. Using the research results, it is expected that it will be possible to confirm dementia only by analyzing the intestinal microbiome.
A research team led by Professor Gautam Dantas of the University of Washington, USA conducted a study on how to distinguish patients in the early stages of dementia by analyzing the intestinal microbiome, and published the research results in the international journal ‘Science Translational Medicine’ on the 14th (local time). )’.
It is already known that the intestinal environment of dementia patients is different from that of healthy people. However, this is the first study to analyze the intestinal microflora of early patients who did not show symptoms of dementia in earnest.
The research team first found people who entered the early stage of dementia targeting 164 experiment participants. In general, dementia is known to be caused by abnormal accumulation of beta-amyloid peptide and entanglement of tau protein abnormally generated in the brain.
The research team identified 49 patients with early signs of dementia through brain scans and cerebrospinal fluid analysis. Although abnormal symptoms that cause dementia were found in their brains, they did not show actual dementia symptoms such as neurodegeneration or cognitive decline.
The research team analyzed the gut microbiome of identified early dementia patients and other participants. The microbiome refers to the collection of microorganisms that exist in a specific environment. As a result, the research team found that the two groups ate the same food, but the gut microbiome was significantly different.
Regarding these findings, the research team said that it is not yet clear whether changes in the brain structure of patients with early dementia have an effect on the intestinal environment or whether changes in the intestinal environment are the cause of the changes in brain structure.
This study is expected to enable easier and more efficient dementia diagnosis. Especially in people or regions where brain scans or cerebrospinal fluid tests are not available, providing a stool sample may make it possible to diagnose dementia.
The research team said, “If it becomes possible to diagnose dementia quickly through intestinal microbes in the future, efficient dementia treatment may be possible through improvement of the intestinal environment.”
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