Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis in Alzheimer's: Microbiome and Neuroimaging.
Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a significant public health concern in sub-Saharan Africa, with a high prevalence and substantial societal burden. Recent evidence suggests that the gut microbiome may play a role in AD pathogenesis, with specific bacterial signatures associated with cognitive impairment. This study aims to investigate the gut microbiome profiles of AD patients compared to cognitively healthy controls in a diverse Ugandan population, integrating neuroimaging and cognitive assessments to elucidate the microbiome's role in
AD risk and progression. The study will recruit 55 AD patients, 55 individuals with mild cognitive impairment (MCI), and 55 matched controls. Participants will undergo rectal swab collection for gut microbiome profiling using metagenomic sequencing. A subset of AD participants will undergo MRI scans to assess neuroimaging biomarkers of neurodegeneration. Cognitive and psychological assessments will be conducted using validated tools. Integrative analyses will explore associations between microbial metrics, neuroimaging markers, and cognitive performance, with a focus on identifying microbial pathways linked to neuroinflammation and oxidative stress. The findings promise to provide mechanistic insights into the gut-brain axis in AD, contributing to the
development of microbiota-based interventions tailored to the unique environmental and genetic contexts of sub- Saharan Africa. The study's comprehensive dataset will serve as a foundation for future investigations into preventive and therapeutic strategies, informing global efforts to mitigate the burden of dementia.