Scientists in China have found something very interesting that may explain why people with Alzheimer’s disease are less likely to get colon cancer, and why people with colon cancer are less likely to get Alzheimer’s.
The research was done by a team from the First Hospital of Hebei Medical University and was published in the journal PNAS.
Doctors have noticed for years that people with Alzheimer’s seem to get certain cancers less often—especially colorectal (colon) cancer. On the other hand, people with colon cancer often don’t go on to develop Alzheimer’s. Until now, no one was sure why this happens.
To explore the link, researchers used mice in a lab. They gave one group of mice symptoms that were similar to Alzheimer’s and left another group as normal. Then, they tried to give both groups colon cancer using special drugs. They found that the mice with Alzheimer’s symptoms were much less likely to get colon cancer than the healthy mice.
Next, the scientists wanted to know what might be causing this effect. So, they took stool (poop) from healthy mice and gave it to the Alzheimer’s-like mice, then tried to give them colon cancer again. This time, the mice were just as likely to get tumors as the healthy mice.
This showed that something in the gut bacteria—the microbiome—might be affecting the link between Alzheimer’s and colon cancer.
They studied the gut bacteria more closely and found that mice with Alzheimer’s symptoms had higher levels of a certain bacteria called Prevotella. These bacteria are part of a group called Gram-negative bacteria.
They found the same pattern in humans: people with memory problems (early signs of Alzheimer’s) had more Prevotella, while people with colon cancer had less.
In another experiment, the researchers gave healthy mice a chemical from Prevotella called lipopolysaccharides. These mice began to show memory problems, like Alzheimer’s.
When those mice were later given cancer treatment, they had fewer tumors than expected. This means that the same bacteria that may cause memory problems might also protect against colon cancer.
The study suggests that Alzheimer’s and colon cancer may be linked through gut bacteria. The bacteria in our stomach and intestines might play a bigger role in diseases than we ever thought.
This new information could help scientists find new ways to treat or prevent these illnesses. For example, if we learn how to balance certain bacteria in the gut, we might be able to lower the risk of both Alzheimer’s and colon cancer.
Although the research was done in mice and is still in the early stages, it offers a new and exciting path for future studies. If these results can be confirmed in humans, it might lead to new treatments that protect both the brain and the body.
This discovery reminds us how all parts of the body are connected. The gut, the brain, and even cancer risk may all be influenced by the tiny bacteria living inside us.
If you care about Alzheimer’s disease, please read studies about root cause of Alzheimer’s disease and new treatment and Scientists find the link between eye disease glaucoma and Alzheimer’s disease.
For more health information, please read studies about new way to treat Alzheimer’s disease and Fluctuating cholesterol and triglyceride levels are linked to Alzheimer’s disease.
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