肠道菌群与老年认知障碍的研究进展

Research progress on gut microbiota and cognitive impairment in the elderly

摘要:

认知减退是脑老化的一个重要特征，随着年龄的增长，炎症反应增加、抗氧化能力下降、血脑屏障损伤及海马结构变化都与老年人认知功能减退有关。近年来，越来越多的研究发现伴随年龄增长而发生的肠道微生物组成变化也是影响老年认知功能的重要原因，并逐渐成为老年认知障碍的重要研究靶点。大量研究发现，肠道菌群可经肠脑轴对老年认知功能产生影响，不仅可以通过神经递质、迷走神经、神经内分泌、免疫调节等途径影响大脑记忆、情感及其他认知领域的功能，还可以通过影响β-淀粉样蛋白沉积、脂多糖水平及小胶质细胞的发育与成熟影响认知功能。本文综述了近年来有关肠道菌群和老年认知功能障碍的相关进展，以期为老年认知障碍相关疾病的防治与康复提供新的思路。

Abstract:

Cognitive decline, a major characteristic of brain aging in the elderly, is associated with the increasing inflammatory reaction, decreasing antioxidant capacity, the impairment of blood-brain barrier, and the structural change of hippocampus. Increasing studies have demonstrated that the changes of gut microbiota in the aging people are an important factor of cognitive impairment, which have gradually become a research hotspot. Gut microbiota can regulate the cognitive function of the elderly through gut-brain axis. They can affect the memory, emotion, and other cognitive domains of the elderly through the neurotransmitters, vagus nerve, nerve endocrine, and immunomodulation. Moreover, they can influence the cognitive function by regulating the beta-amyloid deposition, lipopolysaccharide levels, and the development and maturation of microglia. We reviewed the recent advances in research on gut microbiota and cognitive functions of the elderly, aiming to provide new ideas for the prevention and rehabilitation of cognitive impairment-related diseases in the elderly.