THE INTESTINAL HEALTH OF ELDERLY PEOPLE WITH ALZHEIMER’S AND ITS RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN THE INTESTINE-BRAIN AXIS: A BIBLIOGRAPHIC REVIEW

Abstract

Changes in neurological and behavioral functions can more easily affect the elderly population. Such disorders can be aggravated with the emergence of progressive chronic diseases such as Alzheimer's disease (AD). The decrease in nutrient input, caused by changes in the digestive process, resulting from changes generated by AD, may reflect in changes in the balance of intestinal microbiota. Evidence points to the relationship between dysbiosis and modulation of brain function and behavior, thus establishing a bidirectional communication. This work sought to establish the possible associations between the intestinal health of the elderly with Alzheimer's and the role of microbiota in the communication between the intestinal-cerebral axis. A narrative literature review was carried out, using studies published from 2017 to 2020, in Portuguese, English and Spanish. Throughout the reviewed studies, it was seen that it is important to care for the intestinal health of patients with AD, by avoiding intestinal dysbiosis and a deregulation in the intestinal-microbiota-brain axis. Although there are many studies carried out and under development in this area, more studies and experiments with humans are still needed in order to understand more precisely the role of intestinal health in the development of neurological diseases such as AD.