There’s a New Link Between Gut Health and Alzheimer’s Disease
Researchers have identified a gut bacteria metabolite called imidazole propionate that may contribute to Alzheimer's disease. The study suggests this molecule can weaken the blood-brain barrier and exacerbate the formation of harmful amyloid beta and tau proteins.
Why it matters
This discovery offers a potential new pathway for understanding the biological origins of Alzheimer's and developing future treatments.
A team of scientists believes it has found one such molecule. In a study published in Nature Communications, the researchers identified imidazole propionate (ImP)—a compound produced by certain gut bacteria—as a possible link between the microbiome and Alzheimer’s disease.
From the Gut to the Brain
The hypothesis put forward by the researchers begins in the gut. Some bacteria use an amino acid called histidine, and by metabolizing it, produce ImP. Some of this molecule can enter the bloodstream and circulate throughout the body.
The problem begins at the brain’s border. Experiments in the new study indicate that ImP can weaken the blood-brain barrier, which protects the brain and controls what substances can pass into it via blood. A less effective barrier can help the metabolite enter the brain, where researchers found that it can interact directly with neurons.
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