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Brain age mediates gut microbiome dysbiosis-related cognition in older adults
Sang Joon Son, Dongyun Lee, Hyun Woong Roh, Maria J. Ly, Antonija Kolobaric, Howard Jay Aizenstein, Carmen Andreescu, Eldin Jašarević et al.. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy, 2025-02-27
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Two clusters were identified in the microbiota at the phylum level that showed significant differences on a few microbiotas phylum. Greater gut microbiome dysbiosis was associated with worse cognitive function including MMSE and CDR-SB; this effect was partially mediated by greater brain age even when accounting for chronological age, sex, and education. Our findings indicate that brain age mediates the link between gut microbiome dysbiosis and cognitive performance. These insights suggest potential interventions targeting the gut microbiome to alleviate age-related cognitive decline.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Son, S. J., Lee, D., Roh, H. W., Ly, M. J., Kolobaric, A., Aizenstein, H. J., et al. (2025). Brain age mediates gut microbiome dysbiosis-related cognition in older adults. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01697-8
Vancouver
Son SJ, Lee D, Roh HW, Ly MJ, Kolobaric A, Aizenstein HJ, et al. Brain age mediates gut microbiome dysbiosis-related cognition in older adults. Alzheimer s Research & Therapy. 2025. doi:10.1186/s13195-025-01697-8. PMID: 40016766.
BibTeX
@article{son2025-40016766,
author = {Son, Sang Joon and Lee, Dongyun and Roh, Hyun Woong and Ly, Maria J. and Kolobaric, Antonija and Aizenstein, Howard Jay and Andreescu, Carmen and Jašarević, Eldin and others},
title = {{Brain age mediates gut microbiome dysbiosis-related cognition in older adults}},
journal = {Alzheimer s Research \& Therapy},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1186/s13195-025-01697-8},
pmid = {40016766},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s13195-025-01697-8}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. The record's author list ends in “et al.”, so not every author is named. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- Two clusters were identified in the microbiota at the phylum level that showed significant differences on a few microbiotas phylum.
- Greater gut microbiome dysbiosis was associated with worse cognitive function including MMSE and CDR-SB; this effect was partially mediated by greater brain age even when accounting for chronological age, sex, and education.
- Our findings indicate that brain age mediates the link between gut microbiome dysbiosis and cognitive performance.
- These insights suggest potential interventions targeting the gut microbiome to alleviate age-related cognitive decline.
Why it matters
This study found that greater gut microbiome dysbiosis was linked to worse cognitive function, and that this link was partly explained by greater brain age. The authors suggest targeting the gut microbiome as a possible way to ease age-related cognitive decline, but no intervention was tested.
Study details
- Participants292
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 47/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal. Scored zero for study design, effect reported and randomized / blinded because the record does not state it.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Alzheimer s Research & Therapy) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Alzheimer s Research & Therapy: journal h-index 146 (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 | 2 / 4 | 292 participants |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 3 / 3 | Studied in people (participant count stated) |
| Randomized / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomization or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 2 / 7 | Cited 12 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 2 / 5 | 4.0 citations a year over 3 year(s) since 2025 |
| Impact for its field and year | 3 / 6 | Cited 3.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 1 / 4 | Cited 12 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Helmet Talib Karim: h-index 27 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | Washington University in St. Louis: institution h-index 1,962 (OpenAlex) |
| Multicenter collaboration | 2 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 7 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 40016766) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 47 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1186/s13195-025-01697-8
- PubMed: 40016766
- Original source →
- Free full text: Alzheimer s Research & Therapy →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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