EQS-News: Study Findings Reveal: Gut Microbiome May Offer Early Insight into Dementia Risk

• A newly published study involving Professor Matthias Willmann, medical expert at SYNLAB Germany, suggests that the gut microbiome may provide early, complementary information about an individual’s risk of developing a precursor to dementia – years before symptoms appear.
• In conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease, early detection is crucial, as current treatment methods are significantly more effective when applied at an early stage.
• These early-stage research findings could lead to the development of screening tools for routine diagnostics, from which therapies and preventive measures may be derived.

The study, co-authored by Professor Matthias Willmann – specialist in microbiology, virology, and infection epidemiology, and Medical Director at the Dr Bayer laboratory operated by SYNLAB in Leinfelden-Echterdingen – indicates that the gut microbiome may reveal a person’s risk of developing dementia long before clinical symptoms appear.

The gut microbiome, comprising the full spectrum of bacteria residing in the human digestive system, is increasingly linked to various aspects of health, including brain function. In this study, researchers monitored 100 healthy individuals over a four-year period and found that changes in gut bacterial activity could predict who would later develop what is known as mild cognitive impairment (MCI) – a potential early stage of Alzheimer’s disease.

MCI is characterised by noticeable memory or cognitive difficulties that are not severe enough to significantly disrupt daily life. While MCI can be an early warning sign of Alzheimer’s, not all individuals with MCI go on to develop dementia.

Interestingly, the study found that it was not the type of bacteria that mattered most, but rather their function. The most accurate predictions were based on microbial function – specifically, which genes were active and which substances the bacteria were producing. Using this functional data, the research team developed a statistical model capable of predicting MCI with up to 84% accuracy, based on gut microbiome data collected years earlier. This suggests that changes in bacterial activity may occur well before the first noticeable cognitive symptoms.

“Early detection – ideally at the preclinical stage – is crucial in Alzheimer’s, as both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions are significantly more effective when applied early. If gut microbiome analysis can reliably identify individuals at risk, it could open the door to earlier interventions – potentially even before memory issues arise,” said Professor Willmann, SYNLAB expert and co-author of the study. The findings underscore the potential of gut microbiome testing as a complementary, non-invasive tool for the early detection of cognitive decline.

“Although research in this area is still in its early stages, it could eventually lead to the development of new screening tools for routine diagnostics. These, in turn, could form the basis for therapies and interventions that significantly improve the lives of those affected,” added Dr Martin Roskos, Chief Medical Officer at SYNLAB Germany.

Further details on the study, including its design, leadership, and contributors, can be found at: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/40429881/
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For more information:

Christian Ries, SYNLAB Holding Deutschland GmbH

+49 821 52157 210 christian.ries@synlab.com

About SYNLAB

• SYNLAB Group is the leader in medical diagnostic services and specialty testing in Europe. The Group offers a full range of innovative and reliable medical diagnostics to patients, practising doctors, hospitals and clinics, governments, and corporates.
• Providing the leading level of service within the industry, SYNLAB is the partner of choice for routine and specialty diagnostics in human medicine. The Group continuously innovates medical diagnostic services for the benefit of patients and customers.
• SYNLAB operates in more than 20 countries across four continents and holds leading positions in most markets, regularly reinforcing the strength of its network through a proven acquisition strategy. More than 24,000 employees, including over 2,000 medical experts, contribute every day to the Group’s worldwide success. In Germany alone, SYNLAB employs over 5,000 people.
• SYNLAB performed around 600 million laboratory tests and achieved revenues of €2.62 billion in 2024.
• More information can be found on www.synlab.de and www.synlab.com.