Gut sample patterns may flag cognitive impairment, small study suggests

A small study suggests that patterns of gut bacteria and chemicals in faecal samples could help identify mild cognitive impairment and indicate who may experience faster memory and thinking decline. The findings point to a possible non-invasive way to support earlier assessment, but they do not establish a diagnostic test.

Researchers analysed samples from 35 older adults, many of them couples where one partner had mild cognitive impairment, and used AI to assess the results. They identified differences in several bacteria and chemicals, then found that some markers were associated with faster decline over the following year; the patterns also distinguished people with impairment in a separate group. The researchers say larger, more diverse studies are needed, including research into diet, lifestyle and other influences.