Alzheimer’s Disease and Gut Microbiota
摘要
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder that manifests as cognitive decline and memory impairment, significantly affecting the elderly population. Despite extensive research, the exact pathogenesis of AD remains elusive. Emerging evidence has highlighted the role of the gut–brain axis, suggesting a potential link between gut microbiota and AD. The gut microbiota, a complex community of microorganisms residing in the gastrointestinal tract, is known to influence various physiological processes, including immune modulation, metabolic functions, and the maintenance of the blood–brain barrier integrity. Dysbiosis, an imbalance in the gut microbiota composition, has been associated with systemic inflammation and metabolic disturbances, both of which are critical factors in AD development. Altered gut microbiota can influence neuroinflammation, amyloid-beta plaque formation, and tau protein pathology, which are hallmarks of AD. Several studies have demonstrated that individuals with AD exhibit distinct gut microbiota profiles compared to healthy individuals, indicating a possible contributory role of microbial dysbiosis in AD pathogenesis. This abstract reviews current findings on the interplay between gut microbiota and AD, focusing on how microbial metabolites, such as short-chain fatty acids and lipopolysaccharides, impact neuro.