Researchers Find People With Dementia Have Different Gut Bacteria

A Japanese study found persons with dementia have a different constitution of gut bacteria from people without dementia, reports United Press International . One suggestion is that this difference is the cause of dementia, and not a consequence. For one thing, diet plays a critical role in the makeup of the gut microbiome, and people with dementia often experience changes in appetite and malnourishment. Analysis of stool samples from 128 older adults, with and without dementia, determined that overall, those with dementia had more concentrations of certain compounds — like ammonia, indole, and phenol — but lower levels of beneficial Bacteroides. Mary Sano with the Alzheimer's Disease Research Center at Mount Sinai in New York City says although the presence of certain infectious bugs has been associated with dementia, it might not be the infections themselves that are relevant. She instead suggests a factor within the body's general response to "insult or injury" could be the culprit.