Archaea methanogens are associated with cognitive performance through the shaping of gut microbiota, butyrate and histidine metabolism.

ABSTRACT: The relationship between bacteria, cognitive function and obesity is well established, yet the role of archaeal species remains underexplored. We used shotgun metagenomics and neuropsychological tests to identify microbial species associated with cognition in a discovery cohort (IRONMET, n = 125). Interestingly, methanogen archaeas exhibited the strongest positive associations with cognition, particularly Methanobrevibacter smithii (M. smithii). Stratifying individuals by median-centered log ratios (CLR) of M. smithii (low and high M. smithii groups: LMs and HMs) revealed that HMs exhibited better cognition and distinct gut bacterial profiles (PERMANOVA p = 0.001), characterized by increased levels of Verrucomicrobia, Synergistetes and Lentisphaera

SUBMITTER: Fumagalli A 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11810085 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature