New York: Chloe Kim of Syosset High School and Her Insights

Hi! I’m Chloe and I am 16 years old living in New York. I am interested in microbiology and biotechnology. I aspire to be a microbiologist in the future. In my free time, I like to bake chocolate chip cookies, read dystopian books, and watch my favorite TV shows.

Reviewed Article: Beyond the brain: The gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s disease by NIH

Main Argument & Findings:

The NIA article focuses on the connection between the gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s disease, underscoring how further research into the understanding of the gut microbiome’s role in Alzheimer’s can pave the way for breakthroughs in detecting, preventing, and treating Alzehimers. The NIA article provided a review on multiple recent studies done in a laboratory setting that demonstrates the importance of the role of the microbiome. One of the findings was that when adult aged mice were given a diet high in fiber, there was an increased production of short chain fatty acids and reduction of gene expression that contribute to inflammation in the brain. Another study revealed that when a young gut microbiome was transferred into old mice, the old mice with the young gut microbiome’s chance of survival after an induced stroke increased by 50%.

This article expanded my understanding by emphasizing that brain health extends beyond the brain itself to include the trillions of microbes and fungi that live in the GI tract. Initially, I believed that the microbes in the GI tract primary role was to aid in digestion. After reading this article, however, the gut flora influences overall health including brain health through the gut-brain axis.

Importance for Youth:

Understanding the importance of the gut flora can empower the youth to make informed decisions and lay the foundation to having a long term cognitive well being. Instead of focusing on treatment later in life, the youth have the opportunity to prevent cognitive decline by making healthier lifestyle choices. Acknowledging that having a diverse, balanced diet, staying physically active, getting adequate sleep, and managing stress levels can go a long way to shaping the gut microbiome composition and impacting long term health.

What I Learned: 

This article challenged my initial belief that the microbes in the GI tract primary role is to aid in digestion. The article revealed that a healthy gut flora composition has contributed to reduced inflammation by increasing the production of short chain fatty acids, higher levels of liver produced bile acids, and promoting gut rejuvenation which positively impacts neurodegenerative diseases. I learned that certain bacteria in the gut convert the fiber from food into short chain fatty acids which are known to have anti-inflammatory properties and improve memory in animals. In our fast paced world, many prioritize convenience, which often leads to grabbing nutrient poor food. A diet high in processed and convenience foods causes many people today to not consume the recommended amount of fiber. An action that anyone can take today is to find practical ways to consume more fiber whether that be inulin, fruits, vegetables, or legumes. This may appear as a small step but can be an impactful habit towards maintaining cognitive well being.

Citations: National Institution on Aging. (n.d). Beyond the brain: The gut microbiome and Alzheimer’s disease. National Institute on Aging. https://www.nia.nih.gov/news/beyond-brain-gut-microbiome-and-alzheimers-disease

IG: @cleolavalamp