A byproduct produced by certain gut bacteria may directly accelerate the brain changes associated with Alzheimer’s disease. Elevated blood levels of this molecule, known as imidazole propionate, correlate with worse cognitive decline in humans and actively drive neurodegeneration in animal models. The findings were published in Nature Communications.
The human digestive tract contains trillions of bacteria that help break down food. During this process, microbes release chemical byproducts…