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Jun 9, 2025
Although research increasingly suggests a link between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s progression the underlying mechanisms are still not fully understood said Dr. Robert Vassar senior author of the study and Director of the Mesulam Center for Cognitive Neurology and Alzheimer’s Disease.
There’s now strong evidence showing differences in the gut microbiota of individuals with Alzheimer’s confirmed by multiple research groups said Dr. Vassar. Earlier studies have demonstrated that modifying the gut microbiome in Alzheimer’s mouse models can influence core disease markers such as amyloid plaques and tau buildup suggesting a potential causal link.
In this study Vassar and his team treated Alzheimer’s-prone mice with antibiotics known to alter the gut microbiome. They discovered that these mice had increased levels of propionate a short-chain fatty acid produced by certain gut bacteria.
When researchers added propionate to the mice’s drinking water they observed a decrease in both inflammation and plaque accumulation. The treated mice also showed reduced levels of IL-17 a pro-inflammatory cytokine involved in the body’s immune defense.
We suspect the antibiotics shifted the gut microbiome particularly increasing Akkermansia a bacterium that produces propionate said Dr. Vassar. Mice that received propionate in their drinking water showed a reduction in reactive astrocytes and amyloid plaques.
Dr. Vassar and his team now plan to explore how female sex hormones influence the gut microbiome and affect responses to antibiotic treatment. They also aim to investigate the specific role of IL-17 in the progression of Alzheimer’s disease.
Our current hypothesis is that propionate produced in the gut enters the bloodstream and reduces IL-17 levels Vassar explained. But we still don’t fully understand why that reduction is protective. We’re planning more detailed mechanistic studies in mice to uncover how this process works. These insights will be crucial for translating our findings into clinical applications that could benefit patients.