AUTHOR=Fu Jinjie , Qin Yuan , Xiao Lingyong , Dai Xiaoyu 

TITLE=Causal relationship between gut microflora and dementia: a Mendelian randomization study

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Microbiology

VOLUME=Volume 14 - 2023

YEAR=2024

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/microbiology/articles/10.3389/fmicb.2023.1306048

DOI=10.3389/fmicb.2023.1306048

ISSN=1664-302X

ABSTRACT=Numerous pertinent investigations have demonstrated a correlation between the gut microflora (GM) and the occurrence of dementia. However, a causal connection between the GM and dementia and its subtypes has not been clarified. To explore the causal association between GM and dementia, including its subtypes, using a two-sample mendelian randomization (TSMR) analysis. We used data from 211 GMs and dementia and its subtypes from the Genome-Wide Association Study (GWAS).The principal approach employed for the mendelian randomization study was the inverse-variance weighted method, supplemented by four methods: MR-Egger, weighted median, simple mode, and weighted mode. Finally, Cochrane's Q-test, MR-Egger intercept test, MR-PRESSO global test, and leave-one-out as sensitivity analysis validation. Twenty-one GMs associated with any dementia, alzheimer's disease dementia, vascular dementia, lewy body dementia, parkinson's dementia, and dementia under other disease classifications were derived from the analysis, and twenty-one passed sensitivity tests. We confirmed the causal relationship between GM and dementia and its subtypes, derived specific flora associated with increased or decreased risk of dementia and provided new ideas for preventive, diagnostic, and therapeutic interventions for dementia mediated by gut microbiota.