Does Alzheimer's disease stem in the gastrointestinal system?

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Public Health

Background:

• Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex neurodegenerative disorder with limited effective treatments.
• Identifying modifiable risk factors is critical for AD prevention and management.
• Gastrointestinal (GI) and liver health are increasingly recognized as potentially influencing brain health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between lifetime gastrointestinal/liver diseases and Alzheimer's disease incidence.
• To explore potential biological mechanisms linking these conditions.
• To examine the relationship between chronic use of common GI medications and future AD risk.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature review of epidemiological and mechanistic studies.
• Analysis of research on the gut-brain axis and liver-brain axis in relation to AD.
• Synthesis of evidence on the impact of GI medications on AD pathogenesis.

Main Results:

• Emerging evidence suggests a correlation between GI/liver conditions and increased AD risk.
• Potential mechanisms include inflammation, altered gut microbiota, and metabolic dysregulation.
• Data on GI medications and AD risk is still developing but warrants further investigation.

Conclusions:

• Gastrointestinal and liver health represent potential, yet under-explored, targets for AD risk reduction.
• Further research is needed to elucidate causal relationships and inform clinical practice regarding GI health and AD prevention.