Tailoring the biomarkers of Alzheimer’s disease using a gut microbiome-centric approach: Preclinical, clinical, and regulatory perspectives

Abstract

Alzheimer’s disease (AD), a progressive neurodegenerative disorder, poses significant therapeutic challenges due to its complex etiology and limited treatment options. Traditional pharmacotherapies targeting amyloid-β (Aβ) and cholinergic pathways offer modest benefits and are often associated with adverse effects. Emerging evidence implicates gut dysbiosis and the gut–brain axis in the pathogenesis and progression of AD. This review explores the multifactorial pathophysiology of AD and evaluates the therapeutic potential of gut-based interventions such as probiotics, prebiotics, synbiotics, metabiotics, postbiotics, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) in mitigating disease pathology. Emphasis has also been given on role of miRNA released from FMT in management of AD. Preclinical and clinical studies demonstrate that these strategies can restore microbial homeostasis, reduce neuroinflammation, enhance gut barrier integrity, and improve cognitive outcomes. The regulatory aspects with use of probiotics based products and FMT is also highlighted. The modulation of neuroimmune, neuroendocrine, and neural pathways through microbiota-derived metabolites offers a promising avenue for AD management. Despite encouraging findings, further research is needed to address interindividual microbiome variability, delivery challenges, and the requirement for large-scale, randomized trials. Personalized gut-targeted approaches may open new horizons for the prevention and treatment of AD.