TAMPA, Fla. — A new study by USF researchers aims to uncover how gut health affects brain function, and potentially show that improvements in diet could lower chances of getting Alzheimer’s Disease.

“What we are looking at right now here is how the microbes living in the gut affect the pathology of Alzheimer’s Disease,” said Dr. Hariom Yadav, Director of Microbiome Research at USF.

Those microbes include different kinds of bacteria, with the good keeping the bad in check. Dr. Yadav said a balanced microbiome helps more than digestion. Research shows gut health can be linked to all parts of the body, including a person’s immune and nervous systems.

Dr. Yadav thinks there could even be a tie to good brain health, with the proper diet potentially lowering a person’s chances of getting Alzheimer’s Disease. Yadav began enrolling people in his new study last year. His team will analyze each person’s microbiome and cognitive function over the course of four years.

“So that is kind of the ultimate goal of the study. To find out the bugs our gut has and how that is impacting our brain health and how we can fix it by eating a certain type of diet,” Dr. Yadav said.

Currently, about 100 people are enrolled in the study. Dr. Yadav said the goal is to reach 400 volunteers. Visit USF’s website for information on how to participate.