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Role of gut-brain axis, gut microbial composition, and probiotic intervention in Alzheimer's disease
Kesika P, Suganthy N, Sivamaruthi BS, Chaiyasut C.. Life sciences, 2020-10-22
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
Gut microbiota represents a diverse and dynamic population of microorganisms harboring the gastrointestinal tract, which influences the host health and disease. Gut microbiota communicates with the brain and vice versa through complex bidirectional communication systems - the gut-brain axis, which integrates the peripheral intestinal function with emotional and cognitive brain centers via neuro-immuno-endocrine mediators. Aging alters the gut microbial population, which not only leads to gastrointestinal disturbances but also causes central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as dementia.
Key findings
- Gut microbiota communicates with the brain and vice versa through complex bidirectional communication systems - the gut-brain axis, which integrates the peripheral intestinal function with emotional and cognitive brain centers via neuro-immuno-endocrine mediators.
- Aging alters the gut microbial population, which not only leads to gastrointestinal disturbances but also causes central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as dementia.
- Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common form of dementia affecting the older person, characterized by beta-amyloid (Aβ) plaques and neurofibrillary tangles leading to the cognitive deficit and memory impairment.
- Multiple experimental and clinical studies revealed the role of gut microbiota in host cognition, and its dysbiosis associated with aging leads to neurodegeneration.
Why it matters
This review describes the gut-brain axis and notes that aging alters gut microbial populations, which can lead to CNS disorders such as dementia, and discusses probiotic intervention. It reports no proven treatment, cure or prevention for Alzheimer's disease.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 50/100
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 (Life sciences) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Life Sciences: journal h-index 288 (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 | 3 / 5 | 2021 — within 6 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 477 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 5 / 5 | 68.1 citations a year over 7 year(s) since 2021 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 15.0× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 4 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 4 / 4 | Cited 264 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Chaiyavat Chaiyasut: h-index 49 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Chiang Mai University: institution h-index 310 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 2 countries |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33169684) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Total | 50 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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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
Kesika, P., Suganthy, N., Sivamaruthi, B. S., & Chaiyasut, C. (2021). Role of gut-brain axis, gut microbial composition, and probiotic intervention in Alzheimer's disease. Life sciences. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118627
Vancouver
Kesika P, Suganthy N, Sivamaruthi BS, Chaiyasut C. Role of gut-brain axis, gut microbial composition, and probiotic intervention in Alzheimer's disease. Life sciences. 2021. doi:10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118627. PMID: 33169684.
BibTeX
@article{kesika2021-33169684,
author = {Kesika, P. and Suganthy, N. and Sivamaruthi, B. S. and Chaiyasut, C.},
title = {{Role of gut-brain axis, gut microbial composition, and probiotic intervention in Alzheimer's disease}},
journal = {Life sciences},
year = {2021},
doi = {10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118627},
pmid = {33169684},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.lfs.2020.118627}
}
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