Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common progressive neurodegenerative disease, and the intestinal flora and its metabolites play an important role in the amelioration of central nervous system (CNS) disorders such as AD through a bidirectional interaction between the gut-brain axis (GBA). Nicotinamide mononucleotide (NMN), one of the precursors for nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NAD+) synthesis, reduces the brain features of AD, including neuroinflammation, mitochondrial abnormalities, synaptic dysfunction, and cognitive impairment. However, the impact of NMN on the gut flora of AD is still unknown. In the current study, we investigated the relationship between gut flora and NMN treatment in APP/PS1 transgenic (AD) mice through the 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) high-throughput sequencing analysis of mouse feces after being treated with NMN for 16 weeks. The results show that the NMN significantly changed the intestinal microbial community composition in AD mice. The NMN also increased the relative abundance of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)-producing bacteria such as Lactobacillus and Bacteroides at the genus level by protecting intestinal health and improving AD. The overall results suggest novel therapeutic strategies for treating AD and highlight the critical role of gut microbiota in AD pathology, and layout the further research.
Keywords: 16S rRNA sequence; Alzheimer's disease; Intestinal flora; Mice; NMN.
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