Research progress on gut microbiota and cognitive impairment in the elderly

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.