Gautam Dantas, researcher specializing in microbiogenomics, discusses his new research on the gut microbiome and Alzheimer's disease. They explore the potential for early diagnosis, therapeutic intervention, and the challenges of clinical trials. The role of gut microbes and the gut-brain connection is highlighted, along with opportunities for individuals to contribute to Alzheimer's studies. They also discuss diverse perspectives in storytelling.
The gut microbiome composition of individuals at the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease differs significantly from that of healthy individuals, suggesting it could serve as a diagnostic marker for early detection.
Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms can analyze gut microbiome data to develop predictive models for Alzheimer's diagnosis, potentially providing a faster and less invasive alternative for diagnostic tests.
Research is ongoing to understand the relationship between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer's disease, including studying markers related to inflammation, RNA, and metabolites, which could lead to targeted therapies and new possibilities in understanding human health.
Deep dives
Differences in Gut Microbiome in Preclinical Alzheimer's Patients
A study conducted on individuals at the preclinical stage of Alzheimer's disease found significant differences in the gut microbiome compared to healthy individuals. The study collected stool samples from 150 participants, including 50 preclinical individuals and 100 healthy individuals. The analysis of the microbial DNA revealed distinct microbial composition in the preclinical group. This finding suggests that the gut microbiome could potentially serve as a diagnostic marker for early detection of Alzheimer's. Further research is needed to understand the role of these microbes in the disease progression and to develop a stool test for diagnostic purposes.
Machine Learning for Diagnostic Predictions
Artificial intelligence and machine learning algorithms were employed to analyze the microbial data and develop predictive models for Alzheimer's diagnosis. The models were trained to classify individuals based on the presence or absence of specific bacterial functions identified in the gut microbiome. The results showed that these microbial markers could potentially serve as surrogates for more invasive and costly diagnostic tests. This approach may provide a faster and less invasive alternative for Alzheimer's diagnosis in the future, pending further validation and refinement of the models.
Investigating the Chicken and Egg Relationship
The study also aimed to explore the relationship and causal factors between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer's disease. Ongoing research focuses on analyzing markers related to inflammation in the gut and studying the RNA and metabolites produced by the gut microbiome. These investigations will help determine if changes in the gut microbiome are a consequence or a potential factor in the progression of Alzheimer's disease. Understanding the directionality and mechanisms of this relationship could provide valuable insights for developing targeted therapies.
Metabolomics: Exploring the Relationship Between Microbiome and Host
Metabolomics, a field similar to genomics, focuses on analyzing stool samples to gain a more detailed understanding of the interactions between the microbiome and the host. By examining the different metabolites and gene expressions from both the bugs and the host, researchers hope to determine whether the bugs influence the host or respond to the host's actions. This approach could lead to improved machine learning models, more accurate diagnostics, and potential therapeutic interventions. It also presents an opportunity to challenge long-held assumptions in fields like Alzheimer's research and explore a whole new realm of questions and possibilities in understanding human health.
The Microbiome: A Unique and Malleable Organ
The microbiome is a unique and malleable organ that interacts with every other organ in the body. Unlike other organs which are difficult to change, the microbiome can be intentionally modified through factors such as antibiotics and diet. This malleability opens up new avenues for diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. By collecting correlated data on the microbiome and the host, including information about diet, demographics, and socioeconomic factors, researchers can identify specific correlations and customize interventions for diverse populations. Additionally, the microbiome serves as a promising platform for engineered probiotics that can deliver targeted treatments to specific parts of the body, offering new possibilities for healthcare interventions.
That's today's big question and my returning guest is Gautam Dantas.
Gautam heads up the Dantas Lab at the Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis. His lab works at the interface of microbiogenomics, ecology, synthetic biology, and systems biology to understand, harness, and engineer the biochemical processing potential of microbial communities.
Since our last conversation, Gautam was named a fellow of the American Academy of Microbiology for his studies of microbial communities and antibiotic resistance. I wanted to have him back on the show, not just because Gautam is one of my favorite guests of all time, and not just because of this new study we're going to really dig into, but because you have probably been affected by Alzheimer's in some way.
Alzheimer's is growing more prevalent throughout the world every day as the U. S., China, and so many other countries get old.
We've asked so many questions about dementia, Alzheimer's, and other brain diseases and found so few answers that are repeatable and can either prevent or just slow this disease in some way.
And that's what makes me so excited about Gautam's new research, however preliminary it might be. We get to keep doing it.
We get to keep asking these important questions that can help people.
