Diet, gut microbiome, and cognition in neurodegeneration: a review and methodological framework - PubMed
6 hours ago
- #gut-brain axis
- #dietary interventions
- #neurodegeneration
- The gut microbiome affects brain function via the gut-brain axis through neurotransmitter synthesis, metabolite production, immune modulation, and vagus nerve signaling.
- Microbiome diversity is linked to healthy aging and survival, while dysbiosis is associated with neurodegenerative diseases like Alzheimer's, Parkinson's, multiple sclerosis, and ALS.
- Fecal transplant studies in mice show that microbiome changes can induce cognitive and neuropathological effects, supporting causality in preclinical models.
- Genetic and environmental factors influence both neurodegeneration risk and microbiome composition.
- The review presents a methodological framework for diet-microbiome-cognition research, including causal inference, diet score derivation, validation strategies, and individual heterogeneity.
- The framework aims to guide microbiome-targeted dietary interventions for cognitive health.