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Gut Microbiota Interacts With Brain Microstructure and Function
José-Manuel Fernandez-Real1, Matteo Serino1, Gerard Blasco1
1Department of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition (J.-M.F.-R., W.R.), Institut d'Investigació Biomédica de Girona, CIBER de la Fisiopatología de la Obesidad y la Nutrición (CIBERobn, CB06/03/0010) and Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Girona, 17007 Spain; Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (M.S., R.B.), Toulouse, France; Unité Mixte de Recherche 1048 (M.S., R.B.), Institut de Maladies Métaboliques et Cardiovasculaires, Université Paul Sabatier, F-31432 Toulouse Cedex 4, France; Girona Biomedical Research Institute, Department of Radiology-Institut de Diagnostic per la Imatge (G.B., J.P.), Hospital Universitari Dr Josep Trueta, Girona, 17007 Spain; Department of Computer Science, Applied Mathematics, and Statistics (J.D.-E.), University of Girona, Girona, 17071 Spain; Department of Psychiatry (F.F.-A.), University Hospital of Bellvitge-IDIBELL, Barcelona, CIBERobn, Instituto Salud Carlos III, Barcelona, 08908 Spain; and Nutren Group, Department of Experimental Medicine (M.P.-O.), PCiTAL-IRBLleida-Universitat de Lleida, Lleida, 25198 Spain.
Obesity alters the gut microbiome, impacting brain structure and cognitive function. Increased gut bacterial diversity is linked to better brain health and cognitive performance in humans.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Human Health
Background:
- Animal studies suggest gut microbiota influences brain structure and function.
- Human evidence for this gut-brain axis connection remains limited.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate interactions between gut microbiota composition, brain microstructure, and cognitive performance in obese versus nonobese individuals.
- To identify specific microbiota-brain signatures associated with obesity.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study involving obese and nonobese participants.
- Analysis of gut microbiota using 16S bacterial gene pyrosequencing.
- Assessment of brain microstructure via diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) and R2* MRI sequences.
- Evaluation of cognitive function using standardized tests.
Main Results:
- A distinct gut microbiota-brain map profile differentiated obese from nonobese subjects with 81% accuracy.
- Higher bacterial diversity (Shannon index) correlated with preserved microstructure in key brain regions (hypothalamus, caudate nucleus, hippocampus).
- Gut microbiota composition, particularly the Actinobacteria phylum, was associated with DTI measures in brain regions like the thalamus and amygdala, and with cognitive functions including processing speed, attention, and cognitive flexibility.
Conclusions:
- Obesity significantly influences the crosstalk between gut microbiota and brain microstructure.
- Gut microbiota composition plays a role in modulating brain structure and cognitive function in humans, particularly in the context of obesity.
Related Concept Videos
Gut-Brain Axis
Functions of the Gut Microbiota
Introduction to the Human Microbiota
The Oral Microbiota
Development of Human Microbiota
Microbiota of the Large Intestine

