Alzheimer’s disease may be associated with changes in gut bacteria, and a type of Mediterranean diet could play a role in the disease’s development, say investigators who tested the theory in a small pilot study.
The researchers found several chemicals unique to the guts of older adult participants who had mild cognitive impairment. These “bacterial signatures” correlated with higher levels of Alzheimer’s markers.
The study subjects also participated in a Mediterranean-ketogenic diet intervention. Participants on the diet, which was low in carbohydrates and high in fats, were found to have changes in the gut microbiome that correlated with reduced levels of Alzheimer’s markers, said author Hariom Yadav, Ph.D., Wake Forest School of Medicine.
“Determining the specific role these gut microbiome signatures have in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease could lead to novel nutritional and therapeutic approaches that would be effective against the disease,” Yadav said in a statement.
The study appears in the current issue of EBioMedicine, a journal published by The Lancet.
