Indian-origin researcher develops probiotic cocktail to keep dementia at bay

Want to be marked safe from dementia? This Indian-origin researcher has an interesting concoction that could benefit individuals to stay safe from dementia. 

The proposed cocktail, which is awaiting to get the clinical trials done, has a different approach to preventing dementia. The study says the existing medications for Alzheimer's disease target the biological mechanisms in the brain and not the gut. 

As per the research, the drink is a unique blend of probiotics that can positively impact the microbiome, the unseen community of microorganisms that live by the trillions in a person’s gut. The findings of the study are, published in Nature Scientific Reports. 

Dr Hariom Yadav, director of the USF Health Center for Microbiome Research and his team have been instrumental in publishing the study. 

In the study, Dr Yadav and his team described developing the cocktail, which contains multiple kinds of probiotics, or strains of “good” bacteria known to help keep the human gut working as it should. Study mice received the cocktail in their drinking water for 16 weeks and then performed a “water maze” test, in which they were given visual cues to help them swim to a hidden underwater platform. Cocktail-drinking mice were consistently able to find the platform faster.

It was found that the cocktail reduced the level of proteins that can cause the build-up of sticky plaques in the brain. It was also observed that brain inflammation had reduced and the cocktail preserved tight junctions in the blood-brain barrier — preventing leakage of harmful microorganisms into the brain. 

“We’re still at the stage of whether we want to have our own start-up to license the technology, but first we need to have a clinical trial done. We want to be sure of its clinical efficacy, but we are optimistic about that," said Dr Yadav. 

Health