Clostridium shows a higher abundance in less neurovascular and neurodegenerative changes: A microbiome‐wide association study

Abstract

Introduction: There is an important interplay between the intestinal microbiome and brain, commonly known as the gut-brain-axis. Several studies addressed the role of the microbiome in neurologic diseases. Here, we studied the role of stool microbiota in cognitive function, neurovascular aspects, and neurodegenerative aspects in the general population. Methods: In the population-based Rotterdam Study, we studied the association between stool microbial taxa and cognitive function, and neurovascular and neurodegenerative traits, measured on brain magnetic resonance imaging, in ~1,200 participants. Stool microbiota were profiled using 16s rRNA gene sequencing. We used linear regression analysis, accounted for multiple testing, and adjusted for major confounders, i.e., age, sex, technical covariates, medication use, alcohol, smoking, body mass index, and hypertension. Results: The genus Clostridium sensu stricto 1 showed a higher abundance in participants with better cognitive function (beta(β)(standard error(SE)) 0.023(0.01), p = 3.22 × 10-2), larger global brain volume (β(SE) 0.0019 (0.0006), p = 1.83 × 10-3), less white matter hyperintensities (β(SE)-0.024(0.007), p = 5.38 × 10-4), and smaller lateral ventricular volume (β(SE)-0.013(0.005), p = 1.81 × 10-2). The family Clostridiaceae 1 also showed a higher abundance in these traits, with the same direction of effect and very similar effect estimates. The class Clostridia, order Clostridiales, family Christensenellaceae, and genus Christensenellaceae R7 group showed a higher abundance in better cognition. Of note is that the agreement of our findings with those of studies of Alzheimer's disease is high. Conclusions: Clostridium shows a higher abundance in participants with better cognitive function, less neurovascular aspects, and less neurodegenerative aspects. We find that different microbiota are associated to neurovascular and neurodegenerative pathology.