Gut microbiota-derived short chain fatty acids act as mediators of the gut–brain axis targeting age-related neurodegenerative disorders: a narrative review

Oct 28, 2023Critical reviews in food science and nutrition

Gut bacteria-produced short chain fatty acids may link the gut and brain in age-related brain diseases

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Abstract

Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut microbiota may influence cognitive disturbances associated with aging.

Neurodegenerative diseases linked to aging often involve cognitive decline and changes in gut microbiota.
SCFAs are important metabolites generated during the digestion of dietary fiber and can provide energy to gut cells.
These metabolites can enter the bloodstream and cross the blood-brain barrier, potentially impacting brain metabolism.
The mechanisms by which SCFAs may affect cognitive and emotional functions are not fully understood.
Dietary sources that promote SCFA production have not been thoroughly evaluated, highlighting a gap in current research.
Gut microbiota-derived SCFAs and dietary fibers could be important targets for addressing neurodegenerative disorders in the elderly.

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Neurodegenerative diseases associated with aging are often accompanied by cognitive decline and gut microbiota disorder. But the impact of gut microbiota on these cognitive disturbances remains incompletely understood. Short chain fatty acids (SCFAs) are major metabolites produced by gut microbiota during the digestion of dietary fiber, serving as an energy source for gut epithelial cells and/or circulating to other organs, such as the liver and brain, through the bloodstream. SCFAs have been shown to cross the blood-brain barrier and played crucial roles in brain metabolism, with potential implications in mediating Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). However, the underlying mechanisms that SCFAs might influence psychological functioning, including affective and cognitive processes and their neural basis, have not been fully elucidated. Furthermore, the dietary sources which determine these SCFAs production was not thoroughly evaluated yet. This comprehensive review explores the production of SCFAs by gut microbiota, their transportation through the gut-brain axis, and the potential mechanisms by which they influence age-related neurodegenerative disorders. Also, the review discusses the importance of dietary fiber sources and the challenges associated with harnessing dietary-derived SCFAs as promoters of neurological health in elderly individuals. Overall, this study suggests that gut microbiota-derived SCFAs and/or dietary fibers hold promise as potential targets and strategies for addressing age-related neurodegenerative disorders.

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Gut microbiota-derived short chain fatty acids act as mediators of the gut–brain axis targeting age-related neurodegenerative disorders: a narrative review

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