Global research trends and hotspots of short-chain fatty acids in cognitive impairment: a bibliometric analysis based...

Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) have been widely investigated in research related to cognitive impairment, yet systematic bibliometric analyses focusing on their correlation remain relatively scarce. This study employed bibliometric analysis to objectively review relevant literature, identify key research contributors, and uncover emerging frontiers in the field.

Relevant literature published from 2009 to 2025 was retrieved from the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) and Scopus databases. Bibliometric analyses were performed using the Bibliometrix R package, VOSviewer, and CiteSpace software to evaluate research outputs and generate visualizations.

A total of 425 eligible articles from WoSCC and 514 from Scopus were included. Annual publications on SCFAs and cognitive impairment showed a continuous upward trend from 2009 to 2025. China contributed the largest number of publications in this field, and an international collaboration network has been established, with Wenzhou Medical University (China) serving as the core collaboration hub. International Journal of Molecular Sciences was identified as a major publication platform, and Zhang, Xin was recognized as a core author in SCFA-cognitive impairment research. High-frequency keywords included "gut microbiota," "Alzheimer's disease," "neuroinflammation," and "gut-brain axis." In addition, recent research frontiers encompassed "drug therapy," "microbiology," and "chemistry," revealing the core themes and trends of SCFA and cognitive impairment studies.

This study conducted a comprehensive bibliometric analysis of the association between SCFAs and cognitive impairment, clarified the evolutionary trajectory of research themes, and identified potential future research directions. It revealed a developmental pattern whereby research in this field has gradually advanced from exploring basic correlations between diet and gut microbiota to in-depth investigations of pathological mechanisms, precise targeted interventions, and clinical translational applications. By systematically depicting the current research landscape, this study aims to provide guidance for subsequent investigations and fill critical knowledge gaps.