Hu Xu, Wang Tao, Jin Feng
Key Laboratory of Mental Health, Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences, Beijing, 100101, China.
Sci China Life Sci. 2016 Oct;59(10):1006-1023. doi: 10.1007/s11427-016-5083-9. Epub 2016 Aug 26.
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a most common neurodegenerative disorder, which associates with impaired cognition. Gut microbiota can modulate host brain function and behavior via microbiota-gut-brain axis, including cognitive behavior. Germ-free animals, antibiotics, probiotics intervention and diet can induce alterations of gut microbiota and gut physiology and also host cognitive behavior, increasing or decreasing risks of AD. The increased permeability of intestine and blood-brain barrier induced by gut microbiota disturbance will increase the incidence of neurodegeneration disorders. Gut microbial metabolites and their effects on host neurochemical changes may increase or decrease the risk of AD. Pathogenic microbes infection will also increase the risk of AD, and meanwhile, the onset of AD support the "hygiene hypothesis". All the results suggest that AD may begin in the gut, and is closely related to the imbalance of gut microbiota. Modulation of gut microbiota through personalized diet or beneficial microbiota intervention will probably become a new treatment for AD.
阿尔茨海默病（AD）是一种最常见的神经退行性疾病，与认知功能受损相关。肠道微生物群可通过微生物-肠道-脑轴调节宿主脑功能和行为，包括认知行为。无菌动物、抗生素、益生菌干预和饮食可诱导肠道微生物群和肠道生理的改变，也会影响宿主的认知行为，增加或降低AD风险。肠道微生物群紊乱引起的肠道和血脑屏障通透性增加会增加神经退行性疾病的发病率。肠道微生物代谢产物及其对宿主神经化学变化的影响可能增加或降低AD风险。致病微生物感染也会增加AD风险，同时，AD的发病支持“卫生假说”。所有结果表明，AD可能始于肠道，且与肠道微生物群失衡密切相关。通过个性化饮食或有益微生物群干预来调节肠道微生物群可能会成为AD的一种新治疗方法。
