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Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis in Ageing and Neurodegeneration
Sponsor: IRCCS San Camillo, Venezia, Italy
Summary
Neurodegenerative diseases are a major health concern due to their growing societal implications and economic costs. The identification of early markers of pathogenic mechanisms is one of the current main challenges. The gut-brain axis has become a primary target because of its transversal role across the neurodegenerative spectrum and its effect on cognition. However, despite recent progress, how changes in the gut-microbiota composition can affect the human brain is still unclear. The goal of this observational study is to characterise the gut-microbiota composition associated with alterations in brain structure and function during the ageing process and across neurodegenerative disorders. This is based on recent studies showing that changes in the human brain and in the microbiota composition, can indicate very sensitively and in a predictive way pathological development and, consequently, be used as markers of neurodegenerative diseases. The main questions it aims to answer are: * How variation in the gut-microbiota composition correlates with the normal brain ageing trajectory? * How dysregulation in the gut-microbiota correlates with pathological changes in brain regions in specific neurodegenerative disorders? * Can the impact of the gut-microbiota on the brain be modulated by blood biomarkers? The investigators will recruit 40 young healthy participants, 40 old healthy participants, 40 participants with prodromal Alzheimer's Disease, 40 participants with Parkinson's Disease and 40 participants with Multiple Sclerosis. Participants will undergo the following examinations: * Magnetic Resonance Imaging * Analysis of a stool sample * Analysis of a blood sample * Neuropsychological assessment * Questionnaires on eating habits
Official title: Role of the Gut-microbiota on Ageing and Neurodegeneration: a Clinical and Brain Imaging Study
Key Details
Gender
All
Age Range
20 Years - 90 Years
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
200
Start Date
2023-05-01
Completion Date
2027-04-30
Last Updated
2026-01-09
Healthy Volunteers
Yes
Interventions
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
The Magnetic Resonance Imaging protocol will comprise both structural and functional sequences.
Neuropsychological protocol
Neuropsychological tests will be administered to participants to assess general cognitive state and a range of high-level cognitive functions (memory, executive, language). In addition, disease-specific tests will be administered to patients to investigate disease staging and the level of disability and autonomy.
Eating habits
Information on eating habits will be derived from food questionnaires.
Microbiome analyses
The Microbiome analyses will be derived from a stool sample (16S rRNA sequencing targeted metagenomic analyses).
Inflammatory markers
Inflammatory markers will be evaluated in terms RNA expression level in plasma blood sample.
Alzheimer's Disease biomarkers
The Alzheimer's Disease biomarkers will be measured in the plasma of prodromal Alzheimer's Disease patients.
Locations (3)
IRCCS San Camillo
Venice-Lido, Venice, Italy
IRCCS Istituto Centro San Giovanni di Dio Fatebenefratelli
Brescia, Italy
Università Ca' Foscari Venezia
Venice, Italy