A recent study led by researchers at the University of British Columbia examined associations between the microbiome and Alzheimer’s disease in individuals living in Vancouver. The study was published in The Journal of Alzheimer’s Disease.
Summary: Alzheimer’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease primarily occurring in older adults and is the most common cause of dementia. Despite decades of research, we still have much to learn about what causes Alzheimer’s Disease. A recent study led by researchers at UBC investigated the relationship between Alzheimer’s disease symptoms and the microbiome. The microbiome is the collection of all microbes, such as bacteria, fungi, and viruses, that naturally live on our bodies and inside us. Variation in the microbiome is known to have important impacts on our health. This study examined both the gut microbiome and the oral microbiome in Alzheimer’s disease patients and control participants living in Vancouver. The gut microbiota of Alzheimer’s disease patients was not overtly different from controls, although it displayed lower diversity, an overall marker of microbiota health. The oral microbiota did display marked differences between Alzheimer’s disease patients and controls. Although cognition was not associated with a microbial signature, other relevant factors including mood and BMI did demonstrate an association with the oral microbiome.
Authors: Cirstea, Mihai S.a; b; c | Kliger, Danielc; d | MacLellan, Abbey D.c | Yu, Adam C.c | Langlois, Jennac; d | Fan, Mannied | Boroomand, Setie | Kharazyan, Faezehe | Hsiung, Robin G.Y.d; f | MacVicar, Brian A.g | Chertkow, Howardh; i | Whitehead, Victorj | Brett Finlay, B.a; b; k; *; 1 | Appel-Cresswell, Silkec; f; 1
Affiliations: [a] Department of Microbiology & Immunology, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada | [b] Michael Smith Laboratories, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada | [c] Pacific Parkinson’s Research Centre, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada | [d] Clinic for Alzheimer Disease and Related Disorders, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada | [e] Borgland Family Brain Tissue and DNA Bank, Djavad Mowafaghian Centre for Brain Health, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada | [f] Division of Neurology, Department of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada | [g] Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada | [h] Baycrest and Rotman Research Institute, Toronto, ON, Canada | [i] Department of Neurology and Neurosurgery, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada | [j] Lady Davis Institute for Medical Research, McGill University, Montreal, QC, Canada | [k] Department of Biochemistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada
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