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Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Interface of Microbiome–Immune–Neuronal Interactions
Santosh Kumar Prajapati, Shalini Jain, Hariom Yadav. The Journals of Gerontology Series A, 2025-02-27
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
The microbiome plays a critical role in both promoting human health and contributing to diseases. Multiple emerging evidence shows that it contributes to aging and cognitive decline; however, the mechanisms are not fully understood. Changes in the microbiome and immune system occur with age, and immune functions are one of the key mechanisms linking the microbiome to the brain. Disrupted immunological balance may lead to neuroinflammation and blood-brain barrier dysfunction, contributing to cognitive decline. However, comprehensive knowledge regarding the types of microbiome and immune interactions influencing neuronal and cognitive health in aging remains largely unknown. This review presents evidence about the types of microbiome alterations associated with healthy versus unhealthy aging and how they interact with immune cells linked to neuronal and cognitive functions. It also explores whether and how microbiome modulators like probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics can be potential interventions to help preserve cognitive function in older adults.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Prajapati, S. K., Jain, S., & Yadav, H. (2025). Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Interface of Microbiome–Immune–Neuronal Interactions. The Journals of Gerontology Series A. https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaf038
Vancouver
Prajapati SK, Jain S, Yadav H. Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Interface of Microbiome–Immune–Neuronal Interactions. The Journals of Gerontology Series A. 2025. doi:10.1093/gerona/glaf038. PMID: 40036891.
BibTeX
@article{prajapati2025-40036891,
author = {Prajapati, Santosh Kumar and Jain, Shalini and Yadav, Hariom},
title = {{Age-Related Cognitive Decline and Dementia: Interface of Microbiome–Immune–Neuronal Interactions}},
journal = {The Journals of Gerontology Series A},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1093/gerona/glaf038},
pmid = {40036891},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1093/gerona/glaf038}
}
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Key findings
- This review presents evidence about the types of microbiome alterations associated with healthy versus unhealthy aging and how they interact with immune cells linked to neuronal and cognitive functions.
Why it matters
This review looks at how changes in the microbiome and immune system with age may contribute to cognitive decline, and whether probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics could help preserve cognitive function in older adults. It presents no new trial results, so these interventions are not yet established.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 45/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (The Journals of Gerontology Series A) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | The Journals of Gerontology Series A: journal h-index 274 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 4 / 5 | 2025 — within 3 year(s) of the newest study here |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 3 / 7 | Cited 31 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 10.3 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 8.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 0 / 6 | No other study in this library cites it |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 31 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Hariom Yadav: h-index 55 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | University of South Florida: institution h-index 806 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40036891) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 45 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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