Summary: This study found a connection between Alzheimer’s disease and certain gut problems. These include acid reflux, stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. It suggests some of the same genes and body processes may play a role in both Alzheimer’s disease and these GI (gut) problems. The study also says more research is needed on these links and on new targets for treatment.
In the United States, over 5 million people have Alzheimer’s disease. That number is expected to rise as the population ages. It is now the sixth leading cause of death in the US. People over the age of 65 face a higher risk, and their numbers keep growing. So Alzheimer’s is set to become a major public health problem. Treatment is hard, because there is no cure. Medicines can ease some symptoms. But they do not stop the disease from getting worse. Many of them also have side effects, and they may not work for everyone. There are few good treatments for the mood and behavior changes that often come with the disease. Research into causes and treatments goes on, but progress has been slow. To treat this cruel disease well, we need to understand its biology better. We also need new targets for therapy.
Is gut health linked to Alzheimer’s disease?
Recent research suggests the gut and the brain may be linked in how Alzheimer’s disease develops. This link is called the gut-brain axis. Studies also show the gut microbiome plays a role in Alzheimer’s disease. The gut microbiome is the mix of tiny living things in your gut. One study found that people with Alzheimer’s disease have a different mix of gut bacteria than healthy people. They have less of the helpful bacteria, such as Bifidobacterium. They have more of the harmful bacteria, such as Proteobacteria. These gut changes have been linked to inflammation in the brain. Brain inflammation is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Which gut problems share genetic risk with Alzheimer’s?
Do people who get Alzheimer’s share traits with people who have certain gut problems? To find out, researchers looked at GWAS data. The new study pooled a large amount of data from earlier studies, called genome-wide association studies (GWAS). The goal was to see if Alzheimer’s disease is tied to problems with the gastrointestinal (GI) tract, or gut. The study found a clear, significant link between Alzheimer’s disease and certain GI problems. These were acid reflux, stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. But it found no link between Alzheimer’s disease and inflammatory bowel disease.
The study also found that some of the same genes and body processes may play a role in both Alzheimer’s disease and these GI problems. It calls for more research on these links and on targets for treatment. The study had other interesting findings. It found a link between high blood cholesterol, gut health and Alzheimer’s. Researchers say some studies already show that cholesterol-lowering drugs can improve gut bacteria and adjust the immune system. So drugs like statins lower cholesterol, shift gut bacteria and reduce inflammation across the body.
Studies also show that higher blood fats go with more activity of H. pylori. This bacterium is known to cause gut problems like IBS, GERD and stomach ulcers. So researchers say future studies must look at whether drugs like statins lower the risk of Alzheimer’s. Early evidence suggests these drugs lower bad cholesterol, adjust the immune system and protect the gut. Now we need to find out if these drugs can help lower dementia risk.
Frequently asked questions
Which gut bacteria are linked to Alzheimer’s disease?
One study found that people with Alzheimer’s disease carry a different mix of gut bacteria than healthy people. They have less of the helpful bacteria such as Bifidobacterium. They have more of the harmful bacteria such as Proteobacteria. Those gut shifts have been linked to inflammation in the brain. Brain inflammation is a risk factor for Alzheimer’s disease.
Can acid reflux, stomach ulcers or IBS raise the risk of Alzheimer’s?
The study pooled data from earlier genome-wide association studies (GWAS). It found a positive, significant genetic link between Alzheimer’s disease and three gut problems. These were acid reflux, stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. People whose genes make them prone to these gut disorders share some genes and body processes that may play a role in Alzheimer’s. The researchers say more studies are needed on these links.
Is inflammatory bowel disease linked to Alzheimer’s?
Not in this study. The same gene analysis tied Alzheimer’s disease to acid reflux, stomach ulcers and irritable bowel syndrome. But it found no link between Alzheimer’s and inflammatory bowel disease. The overlap is limited to certain gut problems. It does not apply to every gut disorder.
What does cholesterol have to do with gut health and Alzheimer’s?
The study found a link between high blood cholesterol, gut health and Alzheimer’s disease. Higher blood fats are also tied to more activity of H. pylori. This bacterium is known to cause gut problems such as GERD and stomach ulcers. So blood fats are one thread researchers now want to follow between the gut and Alzheimer’s.
Is there a cure for Alzheimer’s disease?
No. There is no cure for Alzheimer’s disease today. Medicines can ease some symptoms. But they do not stop the disease from getting worse. Many have side effects, and they do not work for everyone. There are also few good treatments for the mood and behavior changes. That is why researchers keep looking for new targets for therapy, including the gut.
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Dr. Gurpreet Singh Padda, MD, MBA, MHP
