The Gut-Brain Axis: How intestinal disorders are closely related to Alzheimer’s disease
[객원 에디터 3기 / 장석현 기자] Edith Cowan University (ECU) has determined that people with intestinal disorders are at greater risk of developing Alzheimer’s disease—the most common form of dementia that disrupts the patient’s cognitive abilities such as recalling and thinking. Although many observational studies regarding the similarities between intestinal disorders and Alzheimer’s were previously held, essential research regarding their genetics was first conducted by ECU.
The research endeavor was led by Dr. Emmanuel Adeuyi and his team from ECU’s Center for Precision Health. They analyzed the genetic composition of Alzheimer’s and gut disorders, including gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and peptic ulcer disease (PUD), from 400,000 volunteers. Afterwards, they discovered a gene that has co-occurred in both illnesses: PDE4B, BRINP3, ATG16L1, SEMA3F, HLA-DRA, SCARA3, MTSS2, PHB, and TOMM40. Although this discovery can not conclusively prove that gut disorders could ‘cause’ Alzheimer’s or vice versa, the result further supports the newly developing concept of the Gut-Brain Axis.
As the name implies, the Gut-Brain Axis is a two-way superhighway between the brain and the digestive system. The chemical signals sent between the two organs are essential for supporting the nervous, immune, and endocrine systems. The digestive system’s influence on psychological and cognitive functions is so notable that the gut is frequently considered the “second brain.”
Alzheimer’s Disease is already known to affect 82 million people worldwide, but no specific cures exist. This research indicates that ‘diet’ could intervene in treating and preventing Alzheimer’s and gut disorders. Lisa Mosconi, the author of Brain Food: Surprising Science of Eating Food for Cognitive Mind, explained that the brain and intestines are so interconnected, as shown by the gut-brain axis, that they could not be treated as “independent units.” She further commented that “You might be making changes for better digestion, but then discover benefits like clearer thinking, feeling calmer, and improving your memory.”
More specifically, this study suggests ingesting cholesterol-lowering medications called ‘Statins’—medications capable of lowering the low-density lipoproteins (LDL)—with foods. LDLs, often called “bad” cholesterol, are proteins responsible for transporting the cholesterol from the liver to blood vessels, potentially blocking the blood vessels and allows statins to be used to significantly lower inflammation and simultaneously protect gut health. High cholesterol could enter into the central nervous system, causing abnormal cholesterol metabolism in the brain. Elevated cholesterol levels in the brain were also associated with cognitive impairments and degenerations.
Thus, many researchers suggest that Alzheimer’s must now be approached differently than previous standardized methods. Luckily, many scientists are positively evaluating that gut microbiomes, being so environmentally sensitive, could be an opportunity for more effective control of the brain via the Gut-Brain axis, leading to broader and greater availability of new, safer therapies targeting such neurodegenerative and neuropsychological illnesses. Although such sensitivity might be a double-edged sword, even the industries started taking notice of these new findings, including the likes of Axial Therapeutics.
Sources: Neuroscience News, Harvard Gazette, LabMedica, and VerywellMind
