Project 2

Influence of Controlled Diets on
Microbiome, Metabolome, & Cognition

Links changes in the gut microbiome & metabolome to diet & lifestyle across stages of AD

Aims

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Relate pre/post intervention changes in the gut microbiome to metabolomics data, to brain structure and function (including cognition), and to AD biomarkers (amyloid beta, tau).

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Define molecular signatures that correlate with or predict cognitive outcomes associated with each diet/lifestyle intervention and determine similarities among the interventions.

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Using system analyses techniques, characterize diet-induced changes in the brain-gut microbiome network that mediate the prevention of cognitive decline.

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Exploratory: Evaluate if metabolomic signatures are correlated with neuropsychiatric symptoms and modified by dietary/lifestyle interventions and relate to gut microbiome composition and activity changes.

The U.S. Study to Protect Brain Health Through Lifestyle Intervention to Reduce Risk (US POINTER) is a two-year clinical trial to evaluate whether lifestyle interventions that simultaneously target many risk factors protect cognitive function in older adults who are at increased risk for cognitive decline.

Mediterranean-DASH Diet Intervention for Neurodegenerative Delay (MIND) Trial to Prevent Alzheimer’s is a three year research study that compares two weight loss diets and their effects on brain health and cognitive decline

Brain Energy for Amyloid Transformation in Alzheimer’s Disease Study (BEAT-AD) compares the effects of a ketogenic low-carbohydrate diet and a low-fat diet in adults with mild cognitive impairment. The data collected will help determine whether diet interventions induce changes in cognitive function, cerebral blood flow, and levels of certain proteins and hormones in body fluids.