Abstract:

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have demonstrated an association between the gut microbiome and cognitive function. However, the associations between the gut microbiome and brain parenchyma damage, and their underlying mechanisms, remain unclear.
MATERIALS AND METHODS: We performed a cross-sectional sub-analysis using data from our prospective cohort study to determine the association between the gut microbiome and cerebral small vessel disease (SVD). We assessed patient demographics, risk factors, cognitive function, brain imaging, voxel-based specific regional analysis system for Alzheimer's Disease (VSRAD, indicating brain atrophy), and the gut microbiome as indicated by enterotypes and faecal microbiome metabolites. We then analysed the associations between total SVD scores, cognitive function, and the gut microbiome.
RESULTS: We analysed data from 87 patients without dementia or a history of stroke, 64 of whom exhibited mild cognitive impairment. Higher total SVD scores were associated with cognitive decline and behavioural and psychological symptoms. Compared with all other patients, patients with enterotype I (Bacteroides >30%) were more likely to have cognitive decline (median scores: Mini-Mental State Examination, 25 vs. 27, P = 0.047; Clinical Dementia Rating-Sum of Boxes, 1.5 vs. 0.5, P = 0.002) and present with cerebral SVD and high VSRAD scores (1.01 vs. 0.57, P = 0.012). Furthermore, faecal metabolites were significantly higher in patients with higher total SVD scores compared with those with lower scores. Multivariable logistic regression analyses indicated that certain gut microbiomes may double the risk of white matter hyperintensity.
CONCLUSIONS: The gut microbiome is associated with cerebral SVD.

日本語要旨:

もの忘れ外来患者を対象に、認知機能と腸内細菌の組成、脳MRI画像の変化（脳小血管病）を解析した。その結果、腸内細菌の組成変化は脳画像の変化（大脳白質病変）と独立した関連を示した。