Gut Microbiota and Neurovascular Patterns in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment

Within the last decade, the gut microbiome has been increasingly implicated in the progression of Alzheimer's disease (AD) pathogenesis, even at the preclinical and prodromal stages of the disease. The complex crosstalk between neuroinflammation, immune responses, and vascular changes in the context of neurodegeneration remains poorly understood. Thus, it is essential to acquire a deeper understanding of the underlying pathophysiology. Mounting evidence supports chronic dysregulation in inflammatory pathways as drivers of AD neurodegeneration and provides insights into possible microbial mechanisms involved in the onset and progression of AD. Additionally, post-mortem evidence of vascular disease is found in the majority of AD patients. Growing evidence suggests that dysfunction and/or breakdown of the blood-brain barrier, as well as reductions and/or dysregulation of cerebral blood flow (CBF as measured by MRI), may occur in sporadic AD and experimental models of the disease prior to cognitive decline, amyloid beta deposition, and brain atrophy. The goal of this study was to identify relationships between the gut microbiome, neurovascular functioning, and cognition in amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).