Gut Microbiota in Alzheimer's Disease and Healthy Aging: Mechanisms, Prevention Strategies and Healthcare Burden
CURRENT NUTRITION REPORTS, cilt.15, sa.1, 2026 (SCI-Expanded, Scopus)
- Yayın Türü: Makale / Derleme
- Cilt numarası: 15 Sayı: 1
- Basım Tarihi: 2026
- Doi Numarası: 10.1007/s13668-026-00812-x
- Dergi Adı: CURRENT NUTRITION REPORTS
- Derginin Tarandığı İndeksler: Science Citation Index Expanded (SCI-EXPANDED), Scopus, EMBASE, Food Science & Technology Abstracts, MEDLINE, Natural Science Collection (ProQuest), Health Research Premium Collection (ProQuest)
- Ondokuz Mayıs Üniversitesi Adresli: Evet
Özet
Purpose of Review Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by cognitive decline associated with oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, tau neurofibrillary tangles, amyloid-beta plaque deposition, and metabolic dysfunction. Increasing evidence suggests that the gut microbiota plays an important role in AD pathogenesis through the microbiota-gut-brain axis. This review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the role of the gut microbiota in AD and healthy aging, with a particular focus on microbiota-targeted preventive and therapeutic strategies and their potential to influence disease progression.Recent Findings Recent studies have demonstrated that alterations in gut microbial composition are closely associated with AD. Patients with AD commonly exhibit a reduced abundance of short-chain fatty acid-producing bacteria and an increased prevalence of lipopolysaccharide-producing taxa, supporting a mechanistic link between microbial dysbiosis, systemic inflammation, and neurodegeneration. Emerging evidence indicates that dietary patterns, prebiotics, probiotics, synbiotics, postbiotics, and microbiota-based therapies, including fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), may beneficially modulate gut microbial composition and influence AD-related pathophysiological processes. In addition, lifestyle factors such as sleep quality and physical activity have been increasingly recognized for their interactions with the gut-brain axis and their potential to affect cognitive health.Summary Current evidence highlights the gut microbiota as a promising therapeutic target in AD prevention and management. Microbiota-directed interventions, together with healthy dietary and lifestyle modifications, may help attenuate neuroinflammation, improve metabolic homeostasis, and delay cognitive decline. Furthermore, given the substantial global economic burden of AD, microbiota-focused preventive strategies may contribute not only to improving clinical outcomes but also to reducing long-term healthcare and societal costs. Future longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to establish causal relationships and determine the efficacy of microbiota-based therapies in AD.