ArdorComm Media Bureau
May 9, 2025
In a promising development in the fight against dementia, Indian-origin researcher Dr. Hariom Yadav from the University of South Florida has created a probiotic cocktail that may help prevent cognitive decline, including Alzheimer’s disease. The research, published in Scientific Reports, presents a novel approach by targeting gut health to influence brain function.
Dementia, which affects over 57 million people globally, impairs memory, thinking, and the ability to carry out everyday tasks. Dr. Yadav’s probiotic cocktail is a unique blend of beneficial microorganisms designed to restore balance in the gut microbiome — a critical but often overlooked system that impacts neurological health.
“In healthy people, the gut microbiome works in harmony,” Dr. Yadav explained. “But certain bacteria can disrupt this balance, triggering systemic inflammation that may lead to neurodegenerative conditions like Alzheimer’s.”
The team administered the probiotic cocktail to mice through their drinking water over a 16-week period. The results were compelling. Mice exposed to the cocktail outperformed others in a water maze test, indicating improved memory and learning capabilities. More importantly, the cocktail reduced protein build-up in the brain — a key contributor to Alzheimer’s — and decreased inflammation while preserving the integrity of the blood-brain barrier.
Unlike most probiotic approaches that use single strains, Yadav’s formula combines multiple strains to form a synergistic consortium. “Together, they’re more effective in transforming the microbiome from harmful to healthy,” he said.
The cocktail also suppressed inflammatory gut bacteria, thereby lowering the risk of neuroinflammation. Dr. Yadav and his team are now collaborating with companies to bring the product to market, with hopes of offering a non-invasive, gut-based therapeutic strategy to delay or prevent dementia.
Source: Business Standard