Severe Cognitive Decline in Long-term Care Is Related to Gut Microbiome Production of Metabolites Involved in Neurotransmission, Immunomodulation, and Autophagy.

ABSTRACT: Aging-associated cognitive decline affects more than half of those in long-term residential aged care. Emerging evidence suggests that gut microbiome-host interactions influence the effects of modifiable risk factors. We investigated the relationship between gut microbiome characteristics and severity of cognitive impairment (CI) in 159 residents of long-term aged care. Severe CI was associated with a significantly increased abundance of proinflammatory bacterial species, including Methanobrevibacter smithii and Alistipes finegoldii, and decreased relative abundance of beneficial bacterial clades. Severe CI was associated with increased microbial capacity for methanogenesis, and reduced capacity for synthesis of short-chain fatty acids, neurotransmitters glutamate and gamma-aminobutyric ac

SUBMITTER: Shoubridge AP 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC12168445 | biostudies-literature | 2025 Jun

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature