Research Project Description:
Alzheimer’s Disease (AD) is characterized by progressive deterioration of cognitive functioning observed mainly in older individuals, beyond what is expected from normal ageing. The understanding of AD symptom etiology still remains incomplete, and this is why there is still lack of effective treatment despite various pharmacological and non-pharmacological approaches. Recent research suggests that the microorganisms living in our gut (microbiome) may play an important role in the cause and development of AD. Changes in our microbiome could lead to inflammation in the gut, which in turn starts the process of inflammation in the brain, made possible by brain-gut communication pathways. Thus, it may be possible to halt or improve AD symptoms by re-establishing a healthy microbiome, the composition of which can be altered via oral administration of nutritional supplements that contain living good bacteria (probiotics). This holistic view of how the entire nervous system is affected, i.e. central, autonomic and enteric nervous systems will provide a better understanding of AD that could lead to prospective and, hence, predictive neurodegeneration diagnosis – something which is currently not possible.
Our objective in this project is to investigate whether administration of probiotics to patients with mild AD reduces neuroinflammation, improves cognitive functioning and modifies neurophysiological measures. We will also study the microbiome composition of the participants to identify whether positive changes are related to specific microbiome profiles. We will recruit volunteers with mild AD and we will ask some volunteers (study group) to take oral probiotics, and others (control group) to take a placebo, over a time period of 16 weeks. We will collect blood samples, neurophysiological measures, dietary habits and neuropsychological test scores at the two study endpoints (week 0 & 16), and fecal samples (week 0 only). We hypothesize that, following probiotic administration, we will see a reduction in specific blood inflammatory markers, which will correlate with positive changes in neurophysiological activity and cognitive test scores, in the study but not the control group.
The project proposes an affordable and safe means of improving cognitive functioning, which is important and timely considering that the financial burden of the disease in the US alone is estimated to reach $1.1 trillion by 2050 (Alzheimer’s Association 2021 Facts and Figures report). According to the WHO, the current worldwide estimate of people suffering from neurodegenerative disorders is approximately 50 million, to which 10 million new cases are added annually, and with the total number of people with dementia projected to reach 152 million in 2050. This research will open the way for personalized, cheap and accessible nutritional interventions for improved cognitive health.
Principal Investigator(s) and Coordinating Institution(s):
- Dr Nicoletta Nicolaou, University of Nicosia Research Foundation
Researchers at University of Nicosia Medical School:
- Prof Aleksandar Jovanovic (co-Investigator)
- Dr Stelios Georgiades
UNIC Participating Institution:
- University of Nicosia Research Foundation
Other Participating Institution(s):
- Cyprus (The Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics)
Funding Agency: Alzheimer’s Association
Funding Programme: Alzheimer’s Association Research Grant New to the Field (AARG-NTF)
Total Research Project Budget: $120,000
Research Project Status: Due to Start
Start and End Dates: 1 July 2022 – 30 June 2024
Funding Programme or Research Project Logo:–
Related Links: https://www.med.unic.ac.cy/2022/04/19/faculty-receive-grant-from-the-alzheimers-association/
*Other Researcher(s) Participating in the Project:
The rest of the research team consists from the Cyprus Institute of Neurology and Genetics):
- Prof Savvas Papacostas (co-Investigator)
- Dr Ioanna Kousiappa (co-Investigator)
- Dr Andreas Hadjisavvas
- Dr Stavros Bashiardes
- Dr Andreas Koupparis
- Dr Yiolanda Christou
- Dr George Loucaides