Alzheimer’s is arguably the most feared disease of old age. So far it is considered incurable. A new Australian review study now provides evidence of a link between gut disease and Alzheimer’s that may have important implications for future diagnostics and treatment.
In Germany, 1.7 million people currently suffer from Alzheimer’s, worldwide there are more than 55 million – and the trend is rising. According to a study by the World Health Organization (WHO), the number will increase by around 40 percent by 2030 – reports the “Tagesschau”. In Germany, according to the Federal Ministry of Health, the number is increasing by 40,000 a year.
So far, Alzheimer’s has been considered incurable. It is all the more important for research to identify early risks of chronic forgetting and to develop preventive measures. A new study by Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Australia now shows a possible connection between intestinal diseases and the development of Alzheimer’s.
As part of the review study, several genome-wide association studies with summary statistics were analyzed for the first time to assess the relationship between Alzheimer’s and bowel diseases. The study results were published in the journal Communications Biology.
In the course of the analysis, the researchers evaluated extensive genetic data on Alzheimer’s in connection with various intestinal diseases. The data comes from various studies, each with around 400,000 participants.
according to dr Emmanuel Adewuyi, lead researcher on the study, said the review study is the first comprehensive assessment of the genetic relationship between Alzheimer’s and various gut disorders. Studies have previously shown the connection between Alzheimer’s and gastrointestinal disorders, but the triggering factors have so far been unclear – the university writes on its website.
Our PDF guide explains how you can prevent digestive problems and treat intestinal diseases properly.
The overview study now clarifies the exact connections that can be seen between the occurrence of various types of intestinal disorders and Alzheimer’s disease. “The study provides new insight into the genetics behind the observed co-occurrence of Alzheimer’s and bowel disorders,” reports Dr. Adewuyi to the EurekAlert press portal.
For example, people with Alzheimer’s and bowel disorders share common genes. From a medical point of view, the detection of the genetic connection is important in many respects and allows the development of new diagnostic and treatment methods for both clinical pictures.
The researchers analyzed the common genetic and biological characteristics of Alzheimer’s and various intestinal diseases – they attribute a major role to lipid metabolism, the immune system and so-called statins – cholesterol-lowering drugs.
Even if the common mechanisms of the two diseases still need to be investigated further, elevated cholesterol levels in particular are an important indicator of the development of intestinal diseases and memory loss. The study provides evidence that high cholesterol levels can be transmitted to the central nervous system and can also cause high cholesterol levels here.
Important for the future treatment of Alzheimer’s: The link between cholesterol levels and Alzheimer’s suggests that cholesterol-lowering drugs could be of therapeutic benefit in the treatment of Alzheimer’s and bowel diseases.
The researchers assume that statins may have anti-inflammatory properties that could modulate immunity and protect the gut. However, this aspect needs to be further investigated in future studies.
As Professor Simon Laws, who led the study, points out, the results are important support for the concept of the gut-brain axis – a mutual connection between the cognitive and emotional centers of the brain and the function of the gut.
Overall, the study reaffirms that diet may play an important role in the treatment and prevention of Alzheimer’s and bowel disorders.
In addition to a generally balanced diet that is as unprocessed as possible, the Alzheimer Research Initiative e.V. lists other important preventive measures on its website that can reduce the risk of disease. These include:
Risk factors should also be considered, including:
The strengthening help book for those affected and their relatives
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