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The complex relationship between gut microbiota and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review
Xuan-Peng Zhou, Luan-Biao Sun, Wen-Hao Liu, Wu-Ming Zhu, Lin-Chun Li, Xin-Yuan Song, Jian-Peng Xing, Shuo-Hui Gao. Ageing research reviews, 2024-12-09
Topic: Gut, metabolism and diet
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a progressive, degenerative disorder of the central nervous system. Despite extensive research conducted on this disorder, its precise pathogenesis remains unclear. In recent years, the microbiota-gut-brain axis has attracted considerable attention within the field of AD. The gut microbiota communicates bidirectionally with the central nervous system through the gut-brain axis, and alterations in its structure and function can influence the progression of AD. Consequently, regulating the gut microbiota to mitigate the progression of AD has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach. Currently, numerous studies concentrate on the intrinsic relationship between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and AD. In this paper, we summarize the multifaceted role of the gut microbiota in AD and present detailed therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota, including the treatment of AD with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has garnered increasing attention in recent years. Finally, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for modulating the gut microbiota to alleviate the progression of AD, the current challenges in this area of research, and provide an outlook on future research directions in this field.
Key findings
- The gut microbiota communicates bidirectionally with the central nervous system through the gut-brain axis, and alterations in its structure and function can influence the progression of AD.
- Consequently, regulating the gut microbiota to mitigate the progression of AD has emerged as a novel therapeutic approach.
- Currently, numerous studies concentrate on the intrinsic relationship between the microbiota-gut-brain axis and AD.
- In this paper, we summarize the multifaceted role of the gut microbiota in AD and present detailed therapeutic strategies targeting the gut microbiota, including the treatment of AD with Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM), which has garnered increasing attention in recent years.
- Finally, we discuss potential therapeutic strategies for modulating the gut microbiota to alleviate the progression of AD, the current challenges in this area of research, and provide an outlook on future research directions in this field.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 64/100
Published in a peer-reviewed journal, and it is a systematic review of all the studies on the question. Scored zero for sample size, effect reported and studied in people because the record does not state it. We have no data on journal's citation record, times cited, citations per year, impact for its field and year, cited by studies here, still being cited, senior author's track record, institution's track record, multi-centre collaboration and free to read, so those were left out: it earned 36 of the 56 points we could judge it on, which is 64 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 7 / 10 | Tier 3 — peer-reviewed journal (Ageing research reviews) |
| Journal's citation record | — / 4 | No journal record from OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Study design | 12 / 12 | A systematic review of all the studies on the question (from PubMed type “Systematic Review”) |
| 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 | A review of other studies — randomisation is not credited here |
| Times cited | — / 7 | No citation count (not found in OpenAlex) — left out of this score |
| Citations per year | — / 5 | No citation count or no year — left out of this score |
| Impact for its field and year | — / 6 | No field-weighted citation impact (OpenAlex has none yet) — left out of this score |
| Cited by studies here | — / 6 | Not yet checked against this library's citation graph — left out of this score |
| Still being cited | — / 4 | No yearly citation counts — left out of this score |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | — / 3 | No institution listed in OpenAlex — left out of this score |
| Multi-centre collaboration | — / 3 | Institutions not listed — left out of this score |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 39662839) |
| Free to read | — / 2 | Access not recorded — left out of this score |
| Points | 36 / 56 | Scored on 10 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 36 of the 56 points we could judge it on is 64 out of 100. |
| Total | 64 / 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. The record names 8 authors; APA and Vancouver show the first six, BibTeX and the downloads carry all of them. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
APA 7th
Zhou, X.-P., Sun, L.-B., Liu, W.-H., Zhu, W.-M., Li, L.-C., Song, X.-Y., et al. (2025). The complex relationship between gut microbiota and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. Ageing research reviews. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2024.102637
Vancouver
Zhou X.-P, Sun L.-B, Liu W.-H, Zhu W.-M, Li L.-C, Song X.-Y, et al. The complex relationship between gut microbiota and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review. Ageing research reviews. 2025. doi:10.1016/j.arr.2024.102637. PMID: 39662839.
BibTeX
@article{zhou2025-39662839,
author = {Zhou, Xuan-Peng and Sun, Luan-Biao and Liu, Wen-Hao and Zhu, Wu-Ming and Li, Lin-Chun and Song, Xin-Yuan and Xing, Jian-Peng and Gao, Shuo-Hui},
title = {{The complex relationship between gut microbiota and Alzheimer's disease: A systematic review}},
journal = {Ageing research reviews},
year = {2025},
doi = {10.1016/j.arr.2024.102637},
pmid = {39662839},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1016/j.arr.2024.102637}
}
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