Probiotics may help slow down age-related cognitive decline: Study

Taking probiotics may help prevent memory and thinking decline that occurs with aging, a study suggests, which may pave the way for new, non-invasive therapies that take advantage of the gut microbiome to reduce cognitive decline in the elderly. Researchers found that when people with mild cognitive impairment received the probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) for three months, their cognitive scores increased. This cognitive improvement was also linked to changes in their gut microbiome.

“The implications of this finding are quite exciting, as it means that modulating the gut microbiome through probiotics could potentially be a strategy to improve cognitive performance, especially in individuals with mild cognitive impairment,” said Mashel Aljumah, a microbiology doctoral candidate at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and North Carolina State University.

“This microbiome adds a new layer to our understanding of the brain-gut connection and opens new avenues for tackling cognitive decline associated with aging.”

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The study included 169 participants between the ages of 52 and 75, who were divided into two groups based on whether they had no neurological problems or mild cognitive impairment. Within each group, participants received either the LGG probiotic or a placebo in a double-blind, randomized clinical trial lasting three months.

The researchers selected the LGG probiotic because previous research had shown its potentially beneficial effects in animal models. To investigate the gut microbiome of the study participants, the researchers used 16S rRNA gene sequencing to identify and compare the bacteria present in the stool samples. They then used whole genome sequencing to gain insight into the functional roles of the identified bacteria.

The analysis showed that microbes in the genus Prevotella were present in greater relative abundance in participants with mild cognitive impairment than in participants without cognitive impairment. This suggests that gut microbiome composition may serve as an early indicator for mild cognitive impairment, providing opportunities for earlier intervention to slow cognitive decline.

For study participants who had mild cognitive impairment and received LGG probiotics, Prevotella relative abundance decreased. This change coincided with improved cognitive scores, suggesting that manipulating the gut microbiota can improve cognitive health in older adults. “By identifying specific changes in the gut microbiome associated with mild cognitive impairment, we are exploring a new frontier in preventive strategies in cognitive health,” Aljumah said. “If these findings are replicated in future studies, it suggests the feasibility of using gut microbiome-targeted strategies as a novel approach to support cognitive health.”

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The study was presented at Nutrition 2023, the annual flagship meeting of the American Society for Nutrition, held July 22-25 in Boston.