Altered gut microbiota in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: a case-control study

This is the authors' abstract. We don't add key points for this paper.

Introduction: The microbiota-gut-brain axis is implicated in Alzheimer's disease. Gut microbiota alterations in mild cognitive impairment (MCI) are inconsistent and remain to be understood. This study aims to investigate the gut microbial composition associated with MCI, cognitive functions, and structural brain differences. Methods: A nested case-control study was conducted in a community-based prospective cohort where detailed cognitive functions and structural brain images were collected. Thirty-one individuals with MCI were matched to sixty-five cognitively normal controls by age strata, gender, and urban/rural area. Fecal samples were examined using 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) V3-V4 sequencing. Compositional differences between the two groups were identified and correlated with the cognitive functions and volumes/thickness of brain structures. Results: , were found in MCIs. Altered genera discriminated MCI patients well from controls (AUC = 84.0%) and were associated with attention and executive function. Conclusion: This study provides insights into the role of gut microbiota in the neurodegenerative process.