A Multimodal Observational Case-Control Study Exploring Gut Microbiota-Hippocampus Alterations in Individuals With...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• The hippocampus is crucial in psychosis, showing reduced volume and altered metabolism (perfusion, glutamate/GABA imbalance).
• Gut microbiota composition influences brain metabolism, but its role in hippocampal alterations in psychosis remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between gut microbiota, hippocampal structure/metabolism, and schizotypy in healthy adults.
• To explore potential links between gut microbiome composition and hippocampal alterations in individuals with high schizotypy.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study of 142 healthy participants (69 high schizotypy, 72 low schizotypy).
• Utilized clinical/cognitive testing, 16S rRNA gene sequencing for gut microbiota, and multimodal neuroimaging (MRI, ASL, MRS) for hippocampal analysis.

Main Results:

• No significant group differences in cognition, neuroimaging, or microbiome composition after multiple comparisons correction.
• Within the high schizotypy group, glutamate and GABA ratios correlated with social withdrawal.
• Hippocampal subfield volumes and glutamate/GABA levels differed significantly between gut microbial enterotypes across the entire sample.

Conclusions:

• Findings suggest a potential link between gut microbial composition and hippocampal alterations in individuals with positive schizotypy.
• Results support further research into gut-brain interactions in psychosis and the development of microbial interventions targeting hippocampal function.