Study finds changes in gut microbiome connected to Alzheimer's-like behavior

New research in mice published today in the journal Scientific Reports strengthens the growing scientific consensus regarding the role of the gut microbiome in neurodegenerative disorders including Alzheimer's disease.

The study, led by researchers at Oregon Health & Science University, found a correlation between the composition of the gut microbiome and the behavioral and cognitive performance of mice carrying genes associated with Alzheimer's. The mice carried the human amyloid precursor protein gene with dominant Alzheimer's mutations generated by scientists in Japan.

The study further suggests a relationship between microbes in the digestive tract and the expression of genes that trigger Alzheimer-like symptoms in mice.

"You know the expression, 'You are what you eat?'" said senior author Jacob Raber, Ph.D., professor of behavioral neuroscience in the OHSU School of Medicine. "This may be part of that. While all mice were fed the same diet, the gut microbiome is affected in a genotype-dependent fashion and this in turn might affect your brain."

The findings are the first to demonstrate a direct connection between the gut microbiome and cognitive and behavioral changes in an Alzheimer's disease animal model, and they are consistent with a recently published observational study in people newly diagnosed with Alzheimer's. In fact, a U.S. clinical trial for the treatment of mild to moderate Alzheimer's disease is currently underway involving a compound that targets microbes in the gut.

The research published today breaks new ground.

In addition to the cognitive and behavioral changes that were measured, the study is the first to demonstrate a relationship between changes in the gut microbiome and epigenetic changes in neural tissue in the hippocampus, an area of the brain affected in Alzheimer's. This type of research is not possible in people.

The microbiome is a complex assemblage of microorganisms such as bacteria that play a critical role in a wide range of functions in the body. In this case, researchers wanted to see if the gut microbiome affected cognitive and behavioral measures in specially bred mice at 6 months of age. So they compared wild-type mice with those genetically engineered to carry the human amyloid precursor protein gene with dominant Alzheimer's mutations.

They found changes in the gut microbiome—measured in fecal pellets—corresponded with epigenetic regulation of the apolipoprotein E and Tomm40 genes, both associated with Alzheimer's. They found a clear correlation, but they still can't say whether one causes the other.

"Microbes may elicit an impact on behavioral and cognitive measures relevant to Alzheimer's disease via epigenetic changes in the hippocampus," Raber said. "Or, alternatively, it might be that the epigenetic changes in the hippocampus affect changes in the gut microbiome."

The next phase of research will determine whether it's possible to reduce Alzheimer's-like symptoms in genetically predisposed mice by altering their diet.

"The exciting part of this is that you can manipulate the gut microbiome," Raber said. "We can use probiotics and see what the effect is."