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An In Vitro Batch-culture Model to Estimate the Effects of Interventional Regimens on Human Fecal Microbiota
Published on: July 31, 2019
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Relationships between diet-related changes in the gut microbiome and cognitive flexibility
K R Magnusson1, L Hauck2, B M Jeffrey2
1Department of Biomedical Sciences, College of Veterinary Medicine, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA; Linus Pauling Institute, Oregon State University, Corvallis, OR 97331 USA.
Neuroscience
|May 19, 2015
Summary
Western diets high in fat and sucrose alter gut microbiota, impacting cognitive flexibility and memory. Specific microbial changes correlate with impaired performance in mice, suggesting a link between diet, microbiome, and brain function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Nutritional Science
Background:
- Western diets, characterized by high fat and sucrose content, are increasingly linked to behavioral changes and alterations in gut microbiota composition.
- Emerging evidence suggests a bidirectional communication pathway between the gut microbiome and the brain, influencing neurological functions and behavior.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate whether diet-induced modifications in the gut microbiota contribute to changes in anxiety, memory, and cognitive flexibility.
- To elucidate the specific microbial shifts associated with high-fat and high-sucrose diets and their correlation with cognitive performance in a mouse model.
Main Methods:
- Male C57BL/6 mice were assigned to high-fat, high-sucrose, or normal chow diets for six weeks.
- Fecal microbiome analysis, behavioral tests (step-down latency, novel object/location recognition), and water maze tasks were performed before and after dietary intervention.
- Cognitive flexibility was assessed through reversal learning tasks in the water maze.
Main Results:
- High-sucrose and high-fat diets induced distinct alterations in gut microbial composition, including increased Clostridiales and decreased Bacteroidales.
- Mice on the high-sucrose diet exhibited significant impairments in long-term memory, short-term memory, and cognitive flexibility during reversal training.
- Increased Clostridiales and decreased Bacteroidales were associated with reduced cognitive flexibility in reversal trials, while other cognitive measures remained unaffected by diet.
Conclusions:
- Diet-induced alterations in the gut microbiome, particularly shifts in Clostridiales and Bacteroidales, are associated with cognitive deficits, specifically impaired cognitive flexibility.
- These findings suggest that changes in gut microbiota composition play a role in the cognitive alterations observed in individuals consuming Western diets.
- Targeting the gut microbiome may represent a potential strategy for mitigating diet-related cognitive decline.
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