NEWS Health News New Evidence Confirms Genetic Link Between Gut Health and Alzheimer’s By Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC Lauren Manaker MS, RDN, LD, CLEC Lauren Manaker, MS, RDN, LDN, CLEC, CPT, has studied nutrition for almost two decades. She was named an emerging leader in women's health by the National Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics. Learn about our editorial process Published on August 01, 2022 Fact checked Verywell Health content is rigorously reviewed by a team of qualified and experienced fact checkers. Fact checkers review articles for factual accuracy, relevance, and timeliness. We rely on the most current and reputable sources, which are cited in the text and listed at the bottom of each article. Content is fact checked after it has been edited and before publication. Learn more. by Heather Mercer Fact checked by Heather Mercer Heather Mercer is native to Northwest Ohio (go Walleye!) and graduated from Loma Linda University with two doctorate degrees (psychology and public health). She is currently a professor at Owens Community College, as well as a fact-checker for Verywell Health. She has gained experience in a variety of settings, ranging from corporate wellness and preventive medicine, to mental health, chronic disease, and end-of-life care. Learn about our editorial process Share Tweet Email Print TanushkaBu / Getty Images Key Takeaways People who have certain gastrointestinal disorders may be at greater risk of developing Alzheimer's disease, as new data highlights a genetic link between the two.The findings also link abnormal cholesterol levels to Alzheimer's and gut disorders.These new findings could lead to earlier detection and new interventions, like using cholesterol-lowering statins to treat the conditions. For the first time, researchers have confirmed the link between gastrointestinal disorders and the risk of developing Alzheimer's. Gastrointestinal tract disorders—which can range from diverticulitis and irritable bowel syndrome to hemorrhoids—can leave people with uncomfortable digestive trouble and, in some cases, extreme abdominal pain. According to new data from Australia's Edith Cowan University, there's a distinct genetic overlap between Alzheimer's disease and certain gastrointestinal disease, including: Gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) Peptic ulcer disease Gastritis-duodenitis Irritable bowel syndrome Diverticulosis Interestingly, the same overlap was not seen among those with inflammatory bowel disease. To determine the link, researchers evaluated genetic information from 400,000 people who had previously participated in cohort studies. "Since gut disorders were implicated [in this study], it is logical to expect improved gut health may contribute to a reduced risk of Alzheimer’s disease,” study author Emmanuel Adewuyi PhD, post-doctoral research fellow at Edith Cowan University in Western Australia, told Verywell. Adewuyi explained that despite the link, there is no proof of causation. In other words, it's not safe to assume that a gastrointestinal disorders will cause Alzheimer's, or vice versa. Additionally, researchers noted abnormal cholesterol levels were associated with both Alzheimer's and gut disorders. As a result, cholesterol-lowering medications, including statins, may positively influence people with either condition. Study Suggests ADHD Drugs Could Treat Alzheimer’s Symptoms Your Diet Can Help Reduce Your Risk Dietary practices can have a profound impact on our overall health. And the findings of this study highlight the importance of managing hyperlipidemia (a high amount of fat in your blood). The authors of the paper suggest that diet may be effective in preventing and managing hyperlipidemia without the need to use medication, specifically calling out the Mediterranean diet as a dietary pattern that offers benefits both for Alzheimer’s disease and gastrointestinal disorders, including possibly preventing both from occurring. The Mediterranean diet consists of foods like fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, seeds, olive oil, and nuts, and with smaller quantities of foods like lean meats, dairy, and eggs. This dietary pattern is rich in antioxidants and prebiotic fiber. The Mediterranean Diet Is Hailed as the Gold Standard. But Should It Be? What This Means For You Finding ways to support your gut health may help reduce your risk of Alzheimer's. 2 Sources Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy. Adewuyi EO, O'Brien EK, Nyholt DR, Porter T, Laws SM. A large-scale genome-wide cross-trait analysis reveals shared genetic architecture between Alzheimer's disease and gastrointestinal tract disorders. Commun Biol. 2022;5(1):691. doi:10.1038/s42003-022-03607-2 Nagpal R, Shively CA, Register TC, Craft S, Yadav H. Gut microbiome-Mediterranean diet interactions in improving host health. F1000Res. 2019;8:699. doi:10.12688%2Ff1000research.18992.1 Editorial Process Medical Expert Board Share Feedback Was this page helpful? Thanks for your feedback! What is your feedback? Other Helpful Report an Error Submit