@article{sanborn_aljumaah_azcarate-peril_gunstad_2022, title={Examining the cognitive benefits of probiotic supplementation in physically active older adults: A randomized clinical trial}, ISSN={["1715-5320"]}, DOI={10.1139/apnm-2021-0557}, abstractNote={ The prevalence of dementia is projected to increase with the growing older adult population and prevention strategies are urgently needed. Two promising interventions include physical activity (PA) and probiotic supplementation, with initial findings suggesting their combined use may confer greater cognitive benefits than either intervention alone. However, no study has yet examined the effects of probiotic supplementation on cognitive function in healthy, physically active older adults. The present study used archival data from a randomized clinical trial including 127 physically active, middle-aged to older adults (average age 64.3 years) with self-reported PA levels meeting or exceeding recommendations to investigate the effects of probiotic supplementation ( Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG; L.GG) on cognitive outcomes. Repeated measures ANOVAs showed no significant changes in cognitive performance from baseline to follow up as an effect of L.GG consumption. These results suggest that probiotic supplementation may not improve cognitive function in persons already engaged in high levels of PA. Future research should include prospective studies to determine whether long-term use of probiotic supplementation may help prevent cognitive decline. Clinical trial registration: clinicaltrials.gov; study # NCT03080818. }, journal={APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY NUTRITION AND METABOLISM}, author={Sanborn, Victoria and Aljumaah, Mashael and Azcarate-Peril, M. Andrea and Gunstad, John}, year={2022}, month={May} }
 @article{aljumaah_bhatia_roach_gunstad_peril_2022, title={The gut microbiome, mild cognitive impairment, and probiotics: A randomized clinical trial in middle-aged and older adults}, volume={41}, ISSN={["1532-1983"]}, DOI={10.1016/j.clnu.2022.09.012}, abstractNote={Advancing age coincides with changes in the gut microbiome and a decline in cognitive ability. Psychobiotics are microbiota-targeted interventions that can result in mental health benefits and protect the aging brain. This study investigated the gut microbiome composition and predicted microbial functional pathways of middle-aged and older adults that met criteria for mild cognitive impairment (MCI), compared to neurologically healthy individuals, and investigated the impact of probiotic Lactobacillus rhamnosus GG (LGG) in a double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized clinical trial. A total of 169 community-dwelling middle-aged (52-59 years) and older adults (60-75 years) received a three-month intervention and were randomized to probiotic and placebo groups. Participants were further subdivided based on cognitive status into groups with intact or impaired cognition and samples were collected at baseline and post supplementation.Microbiome analysis identified Prevotella ruminicola, Bacteroides thetaiotaomicron, and Bacteroides xylanisolvens as taxa correlated with MCI. Differential abundance analysis at baseline identified Prevotella as significantly more prevalent in MCI subjects compared to cognitively intact subjects (ALDEx2 P = 0.0017, ANCOM-BC P = 0.0004). A decrease in the relative abundance of the genus Prevotella and Dehalobacterium in response to LGG supplementation in the MCI group was correlated with an improved cognitive score.Our study points to specific members of the gut microbiota correlated with cognitive performance in middle-aged and older adults. Should findings be replicated, these taxa could be used as key early indicators of MCI and manipulated by probiotics, prebiotics, and symbiotics to promote successful cognitive aging. Registered under ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier no. NCT03080818.}, number={11}, journal={CLINICAL NUTRITION}, author={Aljumaah, Mashael R. and Bhatia, Urja and Roach, Jeffery and Gunstad, John and Peril, M. Andrea Azcarate}, year={2022}, month={Nov}, pages={2565–2576} }