- Studies have suggested that gastrointestinal health and Alzheimer’s disease (AD), the most common form of dementia worldwide, can be connected.
- A recent Australian study has now identified a genetic link between Alzheimer’s disease and various intestinal disorders.
- Many of the genes the scientists identified are involved in lipid metabolism, pointing to statins, which are used to control cholesterol, as a potential treatment for both Alzheimer’s disease and intestinal disorders.
- The findings could also help doctors diagnose Alzheimer’s disease earlier, allowing for better control of symptoms.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia in older adults. According to the World Health Organization,
AD is incurable, but there are deals that can slow the progression of the disease or relieve symptoms.
A recent study developed an MRI-based machine learning system that can help with early diagnosis. Now, a finding from a team in Australia has suggested another possible route to earlier diagnosis and treatment of AD.
The researchers found genetic links between multiple intestinal disorders and AD, which lead researcher Dr. Emmanuel Adewuyi “Identifies new targets to investigate to potentially detect disease earlier and develop new treatments for both types of conditions.”
The study, led by researchers at Edith Cowan University, Perth, Western Australia, is published in
Previous research studies on gut-brain axis found that the gut microbiome can have an impact on the development of AD. In particular,
The researchers in this new study set out to uncover the genetic associations that underlie this observed association between the gut and AD. They analyzed genetic data from 15 large genome studies, most involving more than 400,000 people, that contained information on AD and intestinal disorders.
They found that certain genes were associated with AD and certain intestinal disorders, such as gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), peptic ulcer disease (PUD), gastritis-duodenitis, irritable bowel syndrome, and diverticulosis.
Although the researchers found significant genetic overlap and correlation between Alzheimer’s disease and some gastrointestinal disorders, they found no evidence of a causal association.
The lead author of the study Prof. Simon LawsDirector of the Edith Cowan University Center for Precision Health, says that although the study did not find that gut disorders caused AEs or vice versa, the findings were immensely valuable:
“These findings provide further evidence to support the concept of the ‘gut-brain’ axis, a bidirectional link between the cognitive and emotional centers of the brain and the functioning of the intestines.”
Their study highlighted the genetic association of AD not only with gastrointestinal disorders but also with the gut microbiome, reinforcing the findings of previous studies.
commenting Commenting on the findings, the American Geriatrics Society said the study not only reveals a genetic link between Alzheimer’s disease and several gut-related disorders, but “the findings add to evidence that the gut-brain axis may play a role in the development of neurodegenerative disorders. .”
The researchers also looked at the biological pathways in which these genes involved in both disorders acted, and found an overrepresentation of pathways related to lipids and the immune system. Previous research has found a connection between
This finding involving lipid-related pathways, including cholesterol metabolism and transport, may suggest an association between abnormal cholesterol, intestinal disorders, and Alzheimer’s disease, as Dr. Adewuyi explained:
“While more study is needed on shared mechanisms between the conditions, there is evidence that high cholesterol can be transferred to the central nervous system, resulting in abnormal cholesterol metabolism in the brain.”
‘[E]Elevated cholesterol in the brain has been linked to brain degeneration and subsequent cognitive decline,” he added.
Their findings suggest that medications to control lipid homeostasis and inflammation may be potential treatments for AD. Therefore, the authors suggest that cholesterol-lowering drugs (statins) may be useful in treating both conditions.
Dr. Mansi Shaha licensed clinical integrative pharmacist, certified functional physician, and executive director of the Functional Wellness Network, said the findings could help scientists develop new treatments.
“The study found that the risk of developing AD is increased in individuals with gastrointestinal disorders and that the two conditions share common genetic risk factors. The findings of this study may help improve our understanding of the causes of AD and lead to the development of new treatment strategies,” he said. MNT.
The study states that while the findings do not indicate that AD and gastrointestinal tract disorders will always co-exist, they do reveal a possible “shared biology.”
“Therefore, early detection of AD may benefit from probing for impaired cognition in GIT disorders,” the authors conclude.
Perhaps knowledge of this genetic association could prompt clinicians to screen people for gut disorders and cognitive decline, leading to an earlier diagnosis of AD in some.