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Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis in Alzheimer's Disease
Kowalski K, Mulak A.. Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility, 2019-01-01
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Disturbances along the brain-gut-microbiota axis may significantly contribute to the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative disorders. Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function associated with the formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles. Alterations in the gut microbiota composition induce increased permeability of the gut barrier and immune activation leading to systemic inflammation, which in turn may impair the blood-brain barrier and promote neuroinflammation, neural injury, and ultimately neurodegeneration.
Key findings
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most frequent cause of dementia characterized by a progressive decline in cognitive function associated with the formation of amyloid beta (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles.
- Alterations in the gut microbiota composition induce increased permeability of the gut barrier and immune activation leading to systemic inflammation, which in turn may impair the blood-brain barrier and promote neuroinflammation, neural injury, and ultimately neurodegeneration.
- Recently, Aβ has also been recognized as an antimicrobial peptide participating in the innate immune response.
- However, in the dysregulated state, Aβ may reveal harmful properties.
Why it matters
This review proposes that changes in gut bacteria may drive inflammation that harms the brain and contributes to Alzheimer's disease. It describes a possible mechanism only and reports no treatment, cure or prevention that has been tested in people.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 51/100
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 (Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility) |
| Journal's citation record | 1 / 4 | Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility: journal h-index 85 (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 | 2 / 5 | 2019 — within 10 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 | 6 / 7 | Cited 819 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 91.0 citations a year over 9 year(s) since 2019 |
| Impact for its field and year | 5 / 6 | Cited 29.2× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 3 / 6 | Cited by 10 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 312 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Agata Mulak: h-index 26 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Wroclaw Medical University: institution h-index 348 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 30646475) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 51 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.5056/jnm18087
- PubMed: 30646475
- Original source →
- Free full text: Journal of Neurogastroenterology and Motility →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Kowalski, K., & Mulak, A. (2019). Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis in Alzheimer's Disease. Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility. https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm18087
Vancouver
Kowalski K, Mulak A. Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis in Alzheimer's Disease. Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility. 2019. doi:10.5056/jnm18087. PMID: 30646475.
BibTeX
@article{kowalski2019-30646475,
author = {Kowalski, K. and Mulak, A.},
title = {{Brain-Gut-Microbiota Axis in Alzheimer's Disease}},
journal = {Journal of neurogastroenterology and motility},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.5056/jnm18087},
pmid = {30646475},
url = {https://doi.org/10.5056/jnm18087}
}
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