Project description
Gut microbiome’s role in the brain’s memory system
An explosion of research in recent decades has revealed the widespread implications and far-reaching impact – physically and functionally – of the gut microbiome. Within the last few years, increasing evidence points to a role of the gut microbiome in brain function. The ERC-funded MemoryLane project aims to investigate the hypothesis that gut bacteria play a role in hippocampus-dependent memory and neural plasticity. More specifically, changes in gut microbial signalling may contribute to altered neurocognition in people who are genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease. To investigate this, the team will use cognitive and behavioural testing together with functional magnetic resonance imaging in healthy adults with and without a genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease.
Objective
The fact that the brain is influenced by the microorganisms that make up the gut microbiome substantially widens the scope of how we need to view human neurocognition and behaviour. However, a clear understanding of underlying mechanisms is scant and mainly grounded in animal work. This proposal aims at major contributions towards overcoming these limitations. The core hypothesis is that gut bacteria are key in shaping neural plasticity, and in this way, influence human memory abilities. Changes in gut microbial signalling may contribute to altered neurocognition in individuals who are genetically predisposed to Alzheimer’s disease. MemoryLane’s results will thus also have important implications for an ageing society. To systematically test the role of gut bacteria in neural plasticity, I will take a strong, theory-driven cognitive neuroscience approach. Under my lead, my research team will perform a fine-grained analysis of hippocampus-dependent memory and plasticity, using cognitive-behavioural testing and functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in healthy adults with and without a genetic risk for developing Alzheimer’s disease. Concomitant measures of gut microbial community structure will be essential. To establish causality, we will shape hippocampus-dependent plasticity and memory by modulating the gut microbiome with probiotic bacteria in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial. This interdisciplinary approach will answer whether gut bacteria play a role in human neurocognition. Results will transform the way we understand memory processes, building translational bridges to prior animal and future clinical work. The insights gained may serve as a blueprint for pushing human gut-brain research to the next level, paving the way for potential interventions to alleviate the detrimental effects of altered gut-brain dynamics in genetic risk, older age, and disease.
Fields of science (EuroSciVoc)
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
CORDIS classifies projects with EuroSciVoc, a multilingual taxonomy of fields of science, through a semi-automatic process based on NLP techniques. See: The European Science Vocabulary.
This project's classification has been human-validated.
- natural sciences biological sciences neurobiology cognitive neuroscience
- medical and health sciences basic medicine neurology dementia alzheimer
- natural sciences biological sciences microbiology bacteriology
- engineering and technology medical engineering diagnostic imaging magnetic resonance imaging
Keywords
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Project’s keywords as indicated by the project coordinator. Not to be confused with the EuroSciVoc taxonomy (Fields of science)
Programme(s)
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
Multi-annual funding programmes that define the EU’s priorities for research and innovation.
-
HORIZON.1.1 - European Research Council (ERC)
MAIN PROGRAMME
See all projects funded under this programme
Topic(s)
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Calls for proposals are divided into topics. A topic defines a specific subject or area for which applicants can submit proposals. The description of a topic comprises its specific scope and the expected impact of the funded project.
Funding Scheme
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
Funding scheme (or “Type of Action”) inside a programme with common features. It specifies: the scope of what is funded; the reimbursement rate; specific evaluation criteria to qualify for funding; and the use of simplified forms of costs like lump sums.
HORIZON-ERC - HORIZON ERC Grants
See all projects funded under this funding scheme
Call for proposal
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
Procedure for inviting applicants to submit project proposals, with the aim of receiving EU funding.
(opens in new window) ERC-2024-STG
See all projects funded under this callHost institution
Net EU financial contribution. The sum of money that the participant receives, deducted by the EU contribution to its linked third party. It considers the distribution of the EU financial contribution between direct beneficiaries of the project and other types of participants, like third-party participants.
1010 WIEN
Austria
The total costs incurred by this organisation to participate in the project, including direct and indirect costs. This amount is a subset of the overall project budget.