سامانه همایش های دانشگاه آزاد اسلامی واحد نجف آباد

صفحه اصلی / اولین همایش بین المللی تحول خدمات سلامت: تلفیق مراقبت، درمان، بازتوانی و امیدبخشی

Gut Microbiota and Cognitive Health in Older Adult

نویسندگان :

Fatemeh Ghorbani Moghadam¹ Razieh Kamali Dolatabadi²

1- دانشگاه آزاد نجف آباد - دانشکده پزشکی 2- دانشگاه آزاد نجف آباد - دانشکده پزشکی

کلمات کلیدی :

Gut microbiota،Cognitive health،Aging،Gut-brain axis،Dysbiosis

چکیده :

The gut serves as a major interface between the host organism and the environment, playing a critical role in regulating both physiological and psychological health. In recent years, the gut microbiota-recognized as a dynamic and influential ecosystem-has received substantial attention across medical and behavioral sciences. Understanding the interplay between the gut microbiota and cognitive health is crucial, particularly in aging populations where cognitive decline is prevalent. This study aims to explore the association between gut microbiota composition and cognitive health in older adults. This study involved a cohort of older adults. Aging-associated physiological, immunological, and metabolic shifts were considered for their potential impact on gut microbial composition and function. Data on gut microbiota were analyzed, focusing on measures of microbial diversity, relative abundance of key bacterial taxa (including beneficial species like *Lactobacillus* and *Bifidobacterium*, and potentially pro-inflammatory or pathogenic species), and overall microbial community structure. Cognitive health was assessed using standardized measures of cognitive function, including memory and executive functions, and mood was evaluated for signs of depression or anxiety. Potential mechanisms linking gut dysbiosis to cognitive health were investigated, including analysis of microbial metabolites, systemic inflammation markers, and blood-brain barrier integrity. Analysis revealed distinct gut microbiota profiles in older adults. Aging was associated with reduced microbial diversity and a decreased abundance of beneficial bacteria, alongside an enrichment of pro-inflammatory or potentially pathogenic species. Older adults exhibiting cognitive decline or mood disorders presented significantly different microbiota profiles compared to their cognitively healthy peers. Preliminary findings suggest correlations between specific microbial patterns and cognitive performance, as well as mood states. Investigations into the gut-brain axis indicated potential roles for microbial production of neuroactive metabolites (e.g., short-chain fatty acids, serotonin, GABA), modulation of systemic inflammation, and alterations in blood-brain barrier permeability. The findings suggest a significant association between gut microbiota dysbiosis and impaired cognitive health in older adults. The observed shifts in microbial composition, including reduced diversity and altered abundance of specific taxa, appear to correlate with cognitive decline and mood disturbances. Potential mechanisms involving the gut-brain axis, such as microbial metabolite production and inflammatory modulation, likely contribute to these observed associations. While these results are promising, causal pathways remain incompletely defined. Further research, including larger, longitudinal, and rigorously controlled trials, is necessary to establish causality and elucidate the complex interactions. A deeper understanding of gut-brain interactions in aging may pave the way for the development of personalized diagnostic and therapeutic strategies in psychosomatic medicine, potentially through interventions like probiotic/prebiotic supplementation, dietary modifications, or fecal microbiota transplantation, for example.