Difructose anhydrides from inulin enhance cognitive function via gut microbiota modulation and synaptic signaling in...

With the accelerating pace of life and the exponential growth of information, there is an increasing demand for enhanced cognitive abilities, particularly in learning and memory efficiency. Difructose anhydride I (DFA-I) and difructose anhydride III (DFA-III) are both derivatives of the functional polysaccharide inulin; however, their roles and underlying mechanisms in cognitive enhancement remain unclear. This study presented a high-purity enzymatic production method for DFA-I and DFA-III, evaluated their neurocognitive and gut microbiota-regulating effects, and revealed their mechanism in mice. Behavioral tests revealed enhanced spatial learning and memory following the DFAs intervention. DFAs intervention modulated the gut microbiota, increasing probiotic genera and short-chain fatty acid production, particularly butyrate and acetate. These microbiota changes correlated with upregulated expression of NMDA/GABA and TrkA/NGF signaling genes in the hippocampus. These findings highlight the potential of DFAs as psychobiotics capable of modulating the gut-brain axis and promoting cognitive health.