As time passes, older adults face a quiet but far-reaching challenge—cognitive impairment and dementia. As people age, some may experience a gradual decline in memory and cognitive function. Dementia acts like a silent storm, eroding the brain health of our loved ones.

With global population aging, brain function - related diseases are becoming a major public health threat. A person develops dementia every 3 seconds, and about 2/3 of these cases suffer from Alzheimer's disease (AD). Currently, there are no effective clinical treatments for AD.

However, hope is on the horizon. Scientists have found that yeast β-glucan, a natural substance, may be a powerful tool for maintaining brain health.

Yeast β-Glucan: The Memory Defender

Yeast β-glucan is a polysaccharide in yeast cell walls. Studies have shown that it can significantly improve the cognitive function of AD-like mice induced by Aβ1-42 by modulating gut microbiota and metabolites. In AD patients, tau protein undergoes abnormal phosphorylation, altering its structure and function.

Fig.1 (A) H&E staining of the mouse hippocampus, and (B), (C), (D) WB analysis of tau and p-tau proteins and their significant differences

The gut microbiota, our "second brain", is closely linked to brain health. Through the "gut-brain axis", it communicates with the central nervous system, influencing emotions, cognition, and memory. In Alzheimer's patients, gut microbiota imbalance is connected to disease progression.

How does yeast β-glucan work?

1.Modulating gut microbiota: Yeast β-glucan significantly adjusts the composition of gut microbiota, increasing beneficial bacteria like lactobacilli and bifidobacteria, while decreasing inflammation-related bacteria.

Fig. 2 Yeast β-glucan can restore the gut microbiota imbalance caused by Aβ1-42 by increasing beneficial bacteria and reducing pathogenic bacteria

2.Boosting short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs): Yeast β-glucan promotes SCFA production by gut bacteria. SCFAs are crucial for brain health as they reduce neuroinflammation and improve brain insulin resistance.

3.Enhancing cognitive function: Through these mechanisms, yeast β-glucan improves cognitive function in AD-like mice, reduces brain Aβ deposits and tau protein abnormalities.

Yeast β-glucan offers new hope for preventing and treating elderly cognitive disorders. As a natural, safe, and accessible dietary supplement, it could become a brain - health superfood. Future research is expected to further confirm its effects and hopefully apply it clinically, bringing hope to AD patients. Let's focus on gut health to protect our brains from Alzheimer's.

Reference:

[1] World Alzheimer Report 2018 | Alzheimer's Disease International (ADI) (alzint.org)

[2] M. Xu, X. Mo, H. Huang, et al., Yeast β-glucan alleviatescognitive deficit by regulating gut microbiota and metabolites in Aβ1–42-induced AD-like mice, International Journal of Biological Macromolecules (2018)

[3] S. Ghaisas, J. Maher, A. Kanthasamy, Gut microbiome in health and disease: Linking the microbiome–gut–brain axis and environmental factors in the pathogenesis of systemic and neurodegenerative diseases, Pharmacol. Ther. 158 (2016) 52–62.

[4] V. de J.R. De-Paula, A.S. Forlenza, O. V Forlenza, Relevance of gutmicrobiota in cognition, behaviour and Alzheimer's disease, Pharmacol. Res. 136 (2018)

[5] M. De Angelis, E. Montemurno, L. Vannini, C. Cosola, N. Cavallo, G. Gozzi, V. Maranzano, R. Di Cagno, M. Gobbetti, L. Gesualdo, Effect of Whole-Grain Barley on the Human Fecal Microbiota and Metabolome, Appl. Environ. Microbiol. 81 (2015) 7945–7956.

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