Correlation between Alzheimer’s Disease and gut disorders

Research from Edith Cowan University in Australia has concluded that gut disorders indicate a greater risk of suffering from Alzheimer’s Disease.

The research team, led by Dr Emmanuel Adewuyi from the ECU Centre for Precision Health, conducted what is thought to be the first widespread investigation to identify a genetic relationship between a range of gut diseases and Alzheimer’s Disease.

No substantial correlation was found in the ECU report, despite an earlier study suggesting a connection between IBD and Alzheimer’s disease. The authors of the study speculated that this might be due to the IBD genome-wide association studies’ limited sample size and number of cases.

Nevertheless, the research has stated that while AD has no recognised remedial treatments, and its pathogenesis is not yet fully understood, a complete assessment of its shared genetics with other diseases can provide a broader understanding of its fundamental biological mechanisms and improve possible therapy development efforts.

It is estimated that by 2050 Alzheimer’s Disease, the most common form of dementia, will affect approximately one hundred and fifty-two million individuals.

The report concluded, “Consistent with the concept of the gut-brain phenomenon, observational studies suggest a relationship between Alzheimer’s disease (AD) and gastrointestinal tract (GIT) disorders.”