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Adherence to Life's Essential 8 enhances gut microbiota diversity and cognitive performance
Yannick N Wadop1, Jazmyn Muhammad1, Rebecca Bernal1
1Glenn Biggs Institute for Alzheimer's and Neurodegenerative Diseases, University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio, San Antonio, TX, United States.
Frontiers in Microbiomes
|March 19, 2026
Summary
Improving cardiovascular health through Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics boosts gut microbial diversity and cognitive function. Specific gut bacteria mediate this connection, highlighting potential for microbiome-targeted brain health strategies.
Area of Science:
- Microbiome research
- Cardiovascular health
- Neuroscience
- Gut-brain axis
Background:
- Emerging evidence links cardiovascular health, gut microbiome, and cognitive function.
- Life's Essential 8 (LE8) measures key cardiovascular health indicators.
- The interplay between LE8 adherence, gut microbiota, and cognition requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To explore the relationship between adherence to Life's Essential 8 (LE8) metrics and gut microbiota composition.
- To investigate the association between LE8 adherence, gut microbiota, and cognitive performance.
- To identify microbial mediators in the gut-brain axis connecting cardiovascular health and cognition.
Main Methods:
- Analysis of data from 781 Framingham Heart Study participants.
- Multivariable linear regression models to assess relationships.
- Mediation analysis to identify microbial influence on LE8 and cognitive outcomes.
Main Results:
- Higher LE8 adherence correlated with increased gut microbial diversity (alpha- and beta-diversity).
- Specific gut genera (e.g., Barnesiella, Ruminococcus) were associated with higher LE8 adherence, while Clostridium abundance decreased.
- Gut microbial diversity and beneficial genera like Oscillospira were linked to better cognitive scores; Barnesiella and Lentisphaerae mediated the LE8-cognition link.
Conclusions:
- Comprehensive cardiovascular health, as measured by LE8, positively influences gut microbiota and cognitive resilience.
- Targeting gut microbiota may offer a therapeutic approach to mitigate cognitive decline.
- Further longitudinal and metagenomic studies are warranted to elucidate these gut-brain axis mechanisms.
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