Project description
Gut microbiome central to addressing age-related decline in cognitive functions
The age-related decline in cognitive functions is a social and medical problem of modern times. Studies show that changes in lifestyle and nutritional interventions are beneficial for cognition. The gut microbiome is a key factor in maintaining brain plasticity and represents a promising target for interventions to improve cognitive abilities in the elderly. The EU-funded SmartAge project aims to train a new generation of scientists to understand the role of the microbiome-gut-brain axis in ageing and its impact on cognition. The project will apply a translational approach combining animal and human studies, nutritional and lifestyle interventions, cognitive testing, brain imaging, omics and systems biology to find regulators of gut-brain communication.
Objective
In Europe, the population is aging. The age-associated decline in cognitive functions represents a serious social and medical
problem. Recent studies show that changes in lifestyle such as physical activity and nutritional interventions – even late in
life –are beneficial for cognition. The microbiome in the gut is a central effector in the maintenance of brain plasticity and
therefore represents a promising target as well as sensor for interventions that aim to improve cognitive ability in the elderly.
Detailed and concise scientific investigations of gut-brain interactions, in particular in the elderly, are limited. Such studies
require a multidisciplinary approach and a combination of experts from various fields. The aim of our network is to train a
new generation of young scientists within a multidisciplinary consortium. The ESRs will engage in individual and well
defined, jointly supervised research projects, securing excellent career perspectives and employability. By enabling ESRs to
design and conduct studies in this economically and socially important field, SmartAge will elucidate the role of the
microbiome-gut-brain axis in aging and its impact on cognition. SmartAge will apply a translational approach combining
animal and human studies, nutritional and life style interventions, cognitive tests, brain imaging, cutting edge OMICS and
systems biology as well as fecal transfer as proof of principle to identify key regulators of gut-brain communication with the
aim to develop microbiome-based therapies. An expert team of scientists from both academia and industry such as clinicians, psychologists, nutritionists, biotechnologists and bioinformaticians will closely collaborate to strengthen
microbiome research in aging which will have a direct impact on cognitive health in Europe. Specialists for public
communication outreach will ensure effective and efficient transfer of outcomes to policy makers and into the everyday life of
the European population.
Fields of science
Keywords
Programme(s)
Coordinator
07747 Jena
Germany