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Dietary silver nanoparticle supplementation induces Alzheimer-like lesions through Bifidobacterium deficiency-dominated gut microbiota dysbiosis and neuroinflammation
Rongshang Shou, Ziyue Wang, Zige Han, Anyao Li, Jiaxin Shang, HaiYue Lou, Xiaotong Zhang, Yingqi Zhan et al.. npj Science of Food, 2026-04-04
Topic: Brain proteins, microglia and lab models
Dietary supplement silver nanoparticles have recently drawn attention following reports of hazards associated with long-term use. However, their biosafety, especially their effects on the gut-brain axis, remains largely unexplored. This study demonstrated that dietary supplement silver nanoparticles can accumulate in the intestines, brain, and liver of mice. Chronic exposure to these nanoparticles leads to Alzheimer-like lesions, primarily by disrupting gut microbiota balance. Specifically, this exposure depletes Bifidobacterium and Ruminococcaceae, resulting in reduced intestinal metabolites such as sphingomyelin (d18:1/20:0), tryptophan, and indole. Consequently, this disruption causes neuroinflammation, cognitive impairment, and amyloid-β deposition in mice. Moreover, Bifidobacterium was identified as a key microbial group contributing to Alzheimer-like lesions after exposure, whereas supplementation with Bifidobacterium breve MCC1274 effectively alleviated these lesions. Therefore, the potential risks of silver nanoparticles in dietary supplements should be carefully evaluated. This study provides a promising new direction for the prevention and treatment of Alzheimer-like lesions through microbial interventions.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
Shou, R., Wang, Z., Han, Z., Li, A., Shang, J., Lou, H., et al. (2026). Dietary silver nanoparticle supplementation induces Alzheimer-like lesions through Bifidobacterium deficiency-dominated gut microbiota dysbiosis and neuroinflammation. npj Science of Food. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00820-9
Vancouver
Shou R, Wang Z, Han Z, Li A, Shang J, Lou H, et al. Dietary silver nanoparticle supplementation induces Alzheimer-like lesions through Bifidobacterium deficiency-dominated gut microbiota dysbiosis and neuroinflammation. npj Science of Food. 2026. doi:10.1038/s41538-026-00820-9. PMID: 41935066.
BibTeX
@article{shou2026-41935066,
author = {Shou, Rongshang and Wang, Ziyue and Han, Zige and Li, Anyao and Shang, Jiaxin and Lou, HaiYue and Zhang, Xiaotong and Zhan, Yingqi and others},
title = {{Dietary silver nanoparticle supplementation induces Alzheimer-like lesions through Bifidobacterium deficiency-dominated gut microbiota dysbiosis and neuroinflammation}},
journal = {npj Science of Food},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1038/s41538-026-00820-9},
pmid = {41935066},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1038/s41538-026-00820-9}
}
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
- Dietary supplement silver nanoparticles have recently drawn attention following reports of hazards associated with long-term use.
- This study demonstrated that dietary supplement silver nanoparticles can accumulate in the intestines, brain, and liver of mice.
Why it matters
In mice, long-term dietary silver nanoparticles caused Alzheimer-like brain changes by depleting gut bacteria, and supplementing with Bifidobacterium breve reduced these changes. This is animal research only, so it does not show that silver nanoparticles cause Alzheimer's in people or that probiotics prevent it.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 35/100
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 (npj Science of Food) |
| Journal's citation record | 0 / 4 | Npj Science of Food: journal h-index 58 (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 | 5 / 5 | 2026 — within 1 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 | 1 / 7 | Cited 1 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 0 / 5 | 0.5 citations a year over 2 year(s) since 2026 |
| Impact for its field and year | 2 / 6 | Cited 1.9× 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 | 0 / 4 | Cited 1 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 3 / 4 | Last-listed author Xiaohui Fan: h-index 58 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 1 / 3 | Zhejiang University: institution h-index 1,040 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 41935066) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 35 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
- DOI: 10.1038/s41538-026-00820-9
- PubMed: 41935066
- Original source →
- Free full text: npj Science of Food →
Full text: free to read — OpenAlex lists this copy as free to read: the link above (checked 6 Feb 1020).
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