University of Nevada, Las Vegas Foundation

A new study pinpoints 10 bacterial groups associated with Alzheimer's disease, provides new insights into the relationship between gut makeup and dementia. Could changing your diet play a role in slowing or even preventing the development of dementia? We're one step closer to finding out, thanks to a new UNLV study that bolsters the long-suspected link between gut health and Alzheimer's disease. The analysis -- led by a team of researchers with the Nevada Institute of Personalized Medicine (NIPM) at UNLV and published this spring in the Nature journal Scientific Reports -- examined data from dozens of past studies into the belly-brain connection. The results? There's a strong link between particular kinds of gut bacteria and Alzheimer's disease. Between 500 and 1,000 species of bacteria exist in the human gut at any one time, and the amount and diversity of these microorganisms can be influenced by genetics and diet. The UNLV team's analysis found a significant correlation between 10 specific types of gut bacteria and the likelihood of developing Alzheimer's disease. Six categories of bacteria -- Adlercreutzia, Eubacterium nodatum group, Eisenbergiella, Eubacterium fissicatena group, Gordonibacter, and Prevotella9 -- were identified as protective, and four types of bacteria -- Collinsella, Bacteroides, Lachnospira, and Veillonella -- were identified as a risk factor for Alzheimer's disease. Certain bacteria in humans' guts can secrete acids and toxins that thin and seep through the intestinal lining, interact with the APOE (a gene identified as a major risk factor for Alzheimer's disease), and trigger a neuroinflammatory response -- affecting brain health and numerous immune functions, and potentially promoting development of the neurodegenerative disorder. Researchers said their novel discovery of the distinct bacterial groups associated with Alzheimer's disease provides new insights into the relationship between gut microbiota and the world's most common form of dementia. The findings also advance scientists' understanding of how an imbalance of that bacteria may play a role in the disorder's development. "Most of the microorganisms in our intestines are considered good bacteria that promote health, but an imbalance of those bacteria can be toxic to a person's immune system and linked to various diseases, such as depression, heart disease, cancer, and Alzheimer's disease," said UNLV research professor Jingchun Chen. "The take-home message here is that your genes not only determine whether you have a risk for a disease, but they can also influence the abundance of bacteria in your gut." While their analysis established overarching categories of bacteria typically associated with Alzheimer's disease, the UNLV team said further research is needed to drill down into the specific bacterial species that influence risk or protection. The hope is to one day develop treatments that are customized for an individual patient and their genetic makeup, such as medications or lifestyle change. Studies have shown that changes in gut microbiome through probiotic use and dietary adjustments can positively impact the immune system, inflammation, and even brain function. "With more research it would be possible to identify a genetic trajectory that could point to a gut microbiome that would be more or less prone to developing diseases such as Alzheimer's," said study lead author and UNLV graduate student Davis Cammann, "but we also have to remember that the gut biome is influenced by many factors including lifestyle and diet."

BOSTON, Jan. 4, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Wren Therapeutics announced today a number of new members to its Scientific Advisory Board. Joining existing members—Tuomas Knowles, PhD; Sara Linse, PhD; and Michele Vendruscolo, PhD—are Jeffrey L. Cummings, MD, ScD; Nora Bengoa-Vergniory, PhD; Bradley Hyman, MD, PhD; Kelvin Luk, PhD, MTR; and Rajesh Pahwa, MD. "We are breaking new ground, and we are relying on this distinguished and diverse group of experts to guide our translational and clinical development strategy for our pioneering class of small-molecule drugs that target the source of oligomer generation in neurodegenerative diseases," said Bart Henderson, CEO of Wren. "Each of our SAB members brings unrivaled scientific expertise across key areas of neurodegenerative disease biology, preclinical development, and clinical testing that will be invaluable as we advance our first-in-class small-molecule drugs for Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and ALS into clinical trials." Jeffrey L. Cummings, MD, ScD Joy Chambers-Grundy Professor of Brain Science, Director of the Chambers-Gundy Center for Transformative Neuroscience, Co-Director of the Pam Quirk Brain Health and Biomarker Laboratory, Department of Brain Health, School of Integrated Health Sciences, University of Nevada, Las Vegas Dr. Cummings is globally recognized for his contributions to Alzheimer's disease research, drug development, and clinical trials. He has been recognized for this research and leadership contributions in the field of Alzheimer's disease through numerous awards. More at: Nora Bengoa-Vergniory, PhD Ikerbasque and Ramon y Cajal Research Fellow, Achucarro Basque Center for Neuroscience, Spain Research Visitor, Oxford University Dr. Bengoa-Vergniory's research focuses on alpha-synuclein aggregation and neuroinflammation in neurodegeneration, specifically in Parkinson's and Alzheimer's diseases. Her laboratory specializes in the identification and treatment of disease targets in neurodegenerative conditions through translational modeling. More at: and Bradley Hyman, MD, PhD Director, Massachusetts Alzheimer's Disease Research Center Dr. Hyman directs the Alzheimer's disease research unit at the MassGeneral Institute for Neurodegenerative Disease (MIND) with the goal of understanding the neuropathophysiologic and genetic factors that underlie dementia. His laboratory studies the anatomical and molecular basis of dementia in Alzheimer's disease and dementia with Lewy bodies. Kelvin Luk, PhD, MTR Research Associate Professor of Pathology and Laboratory Medicine, University of Pennsylvania Perelman School of Medicine and Penn Center for Neurodegenerative Disease Research (CNDR) Dr. Luk's research aims to untangle the relationship between the formation of alpha-synuclein pathology that characterizes Parkinson's disease and related disorders, such as dementia with Lewy bodies and multiple system atrophy (MSA), as well as its contribution to neuronal dysfunction and degeneration. More at: Rajesh Pahwa, MD Laverne and Joyce Rider Professor of Neurology, Chief of the Parkinson's and Movement Disorder Division, and Director of Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence, University of Kansas Medical Center Dr. Pahwa's research focuses on the various aspects of Parkinson's disease and essential tremor. He has conducted more than 150 clinical trials for Parkinson's disease therapeutics and for other movement disorders. More at: About Wren Therapeutics Wren is a biopharmaceutical company transforming drug discovery for neurodegenerative diseases, targeting the fleeting protein intermediates central to many disease pathways that are beyond the reach of conventional drug discovery approaches. We have built a unique drug discovery platform to assay and target the transient protein intermediates—the oligomers—in these disease pathways, to interrupt the molecular mechanisms that are the source of oligomer generation with small-molecule therapeutics. We are focusing this platform first on some of the greatest unmet medical needs of our time: Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, and ALS. For more information, please visit: . Contact: Mary Moynihan M2Friend Biocommunications +1 (802) 951-9600 mary@m2friend.com View original content: SOURCE Wren Therapeutics