Uploaded January 2020 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
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It is estimated that a human being contains as many body cells as bacteria cells. Over the last decades, more and more research has focused on the influence of the gut microbiome on health and disease. And now we know: the gut microbiome might influence neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis.
Under normal circumstances, we and the bacteria in our gut benefit from each other’s existence. We provide a habitat for gut bacteria and the microbes that reside in us contribute to our metabolisms by breaking down nutrients and secreting important metabolites. Our gut immune system also scans the microbiome to ensure that no pathogens are able to reproduce (this mainly works bei the recognition of conserved bacteria proteins by pattern recognition receptors which are produced by several immune cells).
Except for breaking down nutrients, bacteria also help us by making short-chain fatty acids and proprionate (the former is important for glucose uptake and metabolism while the ladder might serve as an immune regulator).
However, microbiota do also impact other parts of our bodies including the brain. Gut microbiota modulate the development and homeostasis of the brain through immune, circulatory and neural pathways. The brain, on the other hand, can release stress and endocrine factors, which then influences the gut bacteria composition. Since these interactions are continuous and of unprecedented importance, we also know the term “gut microbiota-brain axis”. Over the last years, more and more studies have shown that microbiota also provoke or protect certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis or Alzheimer's Disease.
Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory disorder which often involves initially symptoms such as blurred vision, tremor or gait instability. The microbiome, however, might also possess a role in the pathology of Multiple Sclerosis. Mice which do not possess a gut microbiome are less likely to develop EAE (a form of multiple sclerosis). Once they acquire a microbiome, they are more likely to suffer from EAE. In humans, it was found that the gut composition varies between multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls.
Concerning Alzheimers disease, a Swedish twin study showed that poor dental status is associated with early signs of Alzheimer's disease. In a study investigating over 4800 residents of a Californian retirement community, dementia was further associated with irregular tooth brushing. Gum infections have also been associated with AD.
But how does this work? Akkermansia is a group of bacteria which is currently heavily investigated One study demonstrated that the levels of 25 different bacteria were significantly different between MS patients and control groups. Within these 25 bacteria species we also find A. municiphila. It is currently not precisely clear how alterations in the levels of these species influence multiple sclerosis. The presence of this bacterium in the gut might also increase the effectiveness of anti-PD cancer treatments.
For your further research:
Cani, P. D. (2018). Human gut microbiome: hopes, threats and promises. Gut, 67(9), 1716-1725.
Tremlett, H., Bauer, K. C., Appel‐Cresswell, S., Finlay, B. B., & Waubant, E. (2017). The gut microbiome in human neurological disease: a review. Annals of neurology, 81(3), 369-382.
Music:
Intro:
Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com
Transitions:
Light Thought var 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: incompetech.com
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a postgraduate student/youtuber (LifeLabLearner) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.
Subscribe for more awesome biomedical research: bit.ly/2SRMqhC
It is estimated that a human being contains as many body cells as bacteria cells. Over the last decades, more and more research has focused on the influence of the gut microbiome on health and disease. And now we know: the gut microbiome might influence neurological disorders such as Alzheimer's Disease or Multiple Sclerosis.
Under normal circumstances, we and the bacteria in our gut benefit from each other’s existence. We provide a habitat for gut bacteria and the microbes that reside in us contribute to our metabolisms by breaking down nutrients and secreting important metabolites. Our gut immune system also scans the microbiome to ensure that no pathogens are able to reproduce (this mainly works bei the recognition of conserved bacteria proteins by pattern recognition receptors which are produced by several immune cells).
Except for breaking down nutrients, bacteria also help us by making short-chain fatty acids and proprionate (the former is important for glucose uptake and metabolism while the ladder might serve as an immune regulator).
However, microbiota do also impact other parts of our bodies including the brain. Gut microbiota modulate the development and homeostasis of the brain through immune, circulatory and neural pathways. The brain, on the other hand, can release stress and endocrine factors, which then influences the gut bacteria composition. Since these interactions are continuous and of unprecedented importance, we also know the term “gut microbiota-brain axis”. Over the last years, more and more studies have shown that microbiota also provoke or protect certain neurodegenerative diseases, such as Multiple Sclerosis or Alzheimer's Disease.
Multiple sclerosis is a neuroinflammatory disorder which often involves initially symptoms such as blurred vision, tremor or gait instability. The microbiome, however, might also possess a role in the pathology of Multiple Sclerosis. Mice which do not possess a gut microbiome are less likely to develop EAE (a form of multiple sclerosis). Once they acquire a microbiome, they are more likely to suffer from EAE. In humans, it was found that the gut composition varies between multiple sclerosis patients and healthy controls.
Concerning Alzheimers disease, a Swedish twin study showed that poor dental status is associated with early signs of Alzheimer's disease. In a study investigating over 4800 residents of a Californian retirement community, dementia was further associated with irregular tooth brushing. Gum infections have also been associated with AD.
But how does this work? Akkermansia is a group of bacteria which is currently heavily investigated One study demonstrated that the levels of 25 different bacteria were significantly different between MS patients and control groups. Within these 25 bacteria species we also find A. municiphila. It is currently not precisely clear how alterations in the levels of these species influence multiple sclerosis. The presence of this bacterium in the gut might also increase the effectiveness of anti-PD cancer treatments.
For your further research:
Cani, P. D. (2018). Human gut microbiome: hopes, threats and promises. Gut, 67(9), 1716-1725.
Tremlett, H., Bauer, K. C., Appel‐Cresswell, S., Finlay, B. B., & Waubant, E. (2017). The gut microbiome in human neurological disease: a review. Annals of neurology, 81(3), 369-382.
Music:
Intro:
Light Sting by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Source: http://incompetech.com/music/royalty-...
Artist: incompetech.com
Transitions:
Light Thought var 3 by Kevin MacLeod is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution licence (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/...)
Artist: incompetech.com
About Clemens Steinek:
CLEMENS STEINEK is a postgraduate student/youtuber (LifeLabLearner) who is currently conducting stem cell research in Germany.
