A study from Edith Cowan University (Australia) confirmed the genetic relationship between intestinal disorders and the Alzheimer’s diseasewhich could lead to earlier detection and new potential treatments.
Alzheimer’s disease destroys memory and the ability to think and is the most common form of dementia. It has no known cures and is expected to affect more than 82 million people in 2030.
Studies previous sighting have suggested a link between Alzheimer’s disease and disorders of the gastrointestinal tract, but what underlies these links was unclear until now.
This work, published in the scientific journal Communications Biologyhas now brought new information about these relationships by confirming a genetic link between Alzheimer’s disease and multiple bowel disorders.
The study looked at large genetic datasets on Alzheimer’s disease and several studies on gut disorders, each with about 400,000 people.
The director of the investigation, Emmanuel Adewuyi, claimed that it is the first full assessment of the genetic relationship between Alzheimer’s disease and multiple intestinal disorders.
New therapeutic target
The team found that people with Alzheimer’s disease and bowel disorders common geneswhich is important for many reasons.
“The study provides new insights into the genetics underlying the observed coexistence of Alzheimer’s disease and gut disorders. improves our understanding of the causes of these conditions and identifies new targets to investigate in order to potentially detect the disease earlier and develop new treatments for both types of conditions,” Dr. Adewuyi said.
Although the study does not conclude that intestinal disorders cause Alzheimer’s disease or vice versa, the results are extremely valuable. These results provide further evidence supporting the concept of gut-brain axisa two-way link between the cognitive and emotional centers of the brain and the functioning of the intestines.
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When researchers delved into shared genetics, they discovered other important links between Alzheimer’s disease and gut disorders, such as the role that cholesterol can play.
a dangerous enemy
Abnormal cholesterol levels have been shown to be a risk for both Alzheimer’s disease and intestinal disorders. “The study of the genetic and biological characteristics common to Alzheimer’s disease and these intestinal disorders suggests that the lipid metabolismthe immune system and cholesterol-lowering drugs play an important role,” says Adewuyi.
Although the mechanisms common to both diseases must continue to be studied, there is evidence that high cholesterol can affect the central nervous system and cause abnormal cholesterol metabolism in the brain.
“There is also evidence to suggest that abnormal blood lipids may be caused or aggravated by intestinal bacteria (Helicobacter pylori), supporting the potential role of abnormal lipids in Alzheimer’s disease and intestinal disorders. For example, high cholesterol in the brain has been linked to brain degeneration and consequent cognitive decline,” says Adewuyi.