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The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Alzheimer's Disease: Neuroinflammation Is to Blame?
Megur A, Baltriukienė D, Bukelskienė V, Burokas A.. Nutrients, 2020-12-24
Topic: Amyloid, tau and blood-test diagnosis
For years, it has been reported that Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common cause of dementia. Various external and internal factors may contribute to the early onset of AD. This review highlights a contribution of the disturbances in the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis to the development of AD.
Key findings
- Various external and internal factors may contribute to the early onset of AD.
- This review highlights a contribution of the disturbances in the microbiota-gut-brain (MGB) axis to the development of AD.
- Alteration in the gut microbiota composition is determined by increase in the permeability of the gut barrier and immune cell activation, leading to impairment in the blood-brain barrier function that promotes neuroinflammation, neuronal loss, neural injury, and ultimately AD.
- Numerous studies have shown that the gut microbiota plays a crucial role in brain function and changes in the behavior of individuals and the formation of bacterial amyloids.
Why it matters
This review proposes that disturbances in the microbiota-gut-brain axis contribute to Alzheimer's disease through gut barrier changes, immune activation, blood-brain barrier impairment and neuroinflammation. It is a proposed mechanism, not a proven treatment or prevention.
Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 48/100
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 (Nutrients) |
| Journal's citation record | 3 / 4 | Nutrients: journal h-index 331 (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 | 2020 — 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 323 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 4 / 5 | 40.4 citations a year over 8 year(s) since 2020 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 9.1× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 2 / 6 | Cited by 8 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 3 / 4 | Cited 193 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | 2 / 4 | Last-listed author Aurelijus Burokas: h-index 24 (OpenAlex, whole career) |
| Institution's track record | 0 / 3 | Vilnius University: institution h-index 358 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 0 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 1 institution(s) in 1 country — scores zero (affiliation lists can be incomplete) |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 33374235) |
| Free to read | 2 / 2 | Free to read |
| Total | 48 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
Read the original
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
Megur, A., Baltriukienė, D., Bukelskienė, V., & Burokas, A. (2020). The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Alzheimer's Disease: Neuroinflammation Is to Blame? Nutrients. https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13010037
Vancouver
Megur A, Baltriukienė D, Bukelskienė V, Burokas A. The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Alzheimer's Disease: Neuroinflammation Is to Blame? Nutrients. 2020. doi:10.3390/nu13010037. PMID: 33374235.
BibTeX
@article{megur2020-33374235,
author = {Megur, A. and Baltriukienė, D. and Bukelskienė, V. and Burokas, A.},
title = {{The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis and Alzheimer's Disease: Neuroinflammation Is to Blame?}},
journal = {Nutrients},
year = {2020},
doi = {10.3390/nu13010037},
pmid = {33374235},
url = {https://doi.org/10.3390/nu13010037}
}
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