A groundbreaking study from Florida State University’s Gut Biome Lab has uncovered a potential link between gut bacteria and Alzheimer’s disease progression. Researchers discovered that Klebsiella pneumoniae, a common bacteria often responsible for hospital-acquired infections, can migrate from the gut to the brain, potentially exacerbating Alzheimer’s symptoms.
“Hospitalizations and ICU stays, combined with antibiotic exposure, may lead to a further decline in microbiome diversity that leaves older adults at high risk not only for digestive issues but also for extra-intestinal pathologies such as neurodegenerative disorders through a dysregulation of the gut-brain axis,” explained Ravinder Nagpal, assistant professor in the FSU College of Education, Health, and Human Sciences, and director of the Gut Biome Lab.
Using a mouse model, researchers demonstrated that antibiotic exposure disrupted gut bacteria diversity, creating a favorable environment for K. pneumoniae growth. This allowed the bacteria to enter the bloodstream, ultimately reaching the brain and triggering neuroinflammation, leading to cognitive impairment.
These findings highlight the potential risks associated with hospital-acquired infections, particularly K. pneumoniae, in developing neurodegenerative diseases. Nagpal emphasizes the importance of managing hospital-acquired pathogens and preserving cognitive health in aging populations.
“Hospital-acquired and septic infections are one of the risk factors that may increase the predispositions to future neuroinflammatory and neurocognitive impairments, especially in older adults,” Nagpal added.
Further research is needed to explore preventive strategies and innovative therapeutic approaches to combat Alzheimer’s disease, considering the crucial role gut bacteria might play in its progression. Understanding this complex interplay opens up new avenues for treating this debilitating disease.
Reference: “An Enteric Bacterial Infection Triggers Neuroinflammation and Neurobehavioral Impairment in 3xTg-AD Transgenic Mice” by Gwoncheol Park, Saurabh Kadyan, Nathaniel Hochuli, Gloria Salazar, Orlando Laitano, Paramita Chakrabarty, Philip A Efron, M Ammar Zafar, Aaron Wilber and Ravinder Nagpal, 10 September 2024, The Journal of Infectious Diseases.
DOI: 10.1093/infdis/jiae165
The research was funded by the Infectious Diseases Society of America and the Florida Department of Health.
Learn More About Alzheimer’s Disease: https://www.alz.org/