Cited by 333Gut microbiota and healthNutritional Studies and DietGastrointestinal motility and disorders

Gut to Brain Dysbiosis: Mechanisms Linking Western Diet Consumption, the Microbiome, and Cognitive Impairment

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Noble, Emily E., Hsu, Ted M., Kanoski, Scott E.·2017·Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience

Abstract

Consumption of a Western Diet (WD) that is high in saturated fat and added sugars negatively impacts cognitive function, particularly mnemonic processes that rely on the integrity of the hippocampus. Emerging evidence suggests that the gut microbiome influences cognitive function via the gut-brain axis, and that WD factors significantly alter the proportions of commensal bacteria in the gastrointestinal tract. Here we review mechanisms through which consuming a WD negatively impacts neurocognitive function, with a particular focus on recent evidence linking the gut microbiome with dietary- and metabolic-associated hippocampal impairment. We highlight evidence linking gut bacteria to altered intestinal permeability and blood brain barrier integrity, thus making the brain more vulnerable to the influx of deleterious substances from the circulation. WD consumption also increases production of endotoxin by commensal bacteria, which may promote neuroinflammation and cognitive dysfunction. Recent findings also show that diet-induced alterations in gut microbiota impair peripheral insulin sensitivity, which is associated with hippocampal neuronal derrangements and associated mnemonic deficits. In some cases treatment with specific probiotics or prebiotics can prevent or reverse some of the deleterious impact of WD consumption on neuropsychological outcomes, indicating that targeting the microbiome may be a successful strategy for combating dietary- and metabolic-associated cognitive impairment.

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Crossref · 10.3389/fnbeh.2017.00009

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  • The inflammatory effects of a diet high in calories and saturated fat have been proposed as one mechanism through which the Western diet may have detrimental effects on brain health, including cognitive decline, hippocampal dysfunction, and damage to the blood-brain barrier.

    “Indeed, the inflammatory effects of a diet high in calories and saturated fat have been proposed as one mechanism through which the Western diet may have detrimental effects on brain health, including cognitive decline, hippocampal dysfunction, and damage to the blood-brain barrier.15”
  • High calorie meals rich in saturated fat appear to stimulate immune activation.

    “On the other hand, high calorie meals rich in saturated fat appear to stimulate immune activation.13 15”
  • Consumption of a diet high in fibres, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids can promote gut microbial taxa which can metabolise these food sources into anti-inflammatory metabolites, such as short chain fatty acids, while lowering the production of secondary bile acids and p-cresol.

    “Conversely, the consumption of a diet high in fibres, polyphenols, and unsaturated fatty acids (as found in a Mediterranean diet) can promote gut microbial taxa which can metabolise these food sources into anti-inflammatory metabolites,15 28 such as short chain fatty acids, while lowering the production of secondary bile acids and p-cresol.”
  • Diet is a potentially modifiable determinant of the diversity, relative abundance, and functionality of the gut microbiome throughout life.

    “In addition to genetic factors and exposure to antibiotics, diet is a potentially modifiable determinant of the diversity, relative abundance, and functionality of the gut microbiome throughout life.”
  • A decrease in the function of the gut barrier, sometimes referred to as leaky gut, has been linked to an unhealthy gut microbiome resulting from a diet low in fibre and high in saturated fats, refined sugars, and artificial sweeteners.

    “Such a decrease in the function of the gut barrier is sometimes referred to as a “leaky gut” and has been linked to an “unhealthy” gut microbiome resulting from a diet low in fibre and high in saturated fats, refined sugars, and artificial sweeteners.15 23 27”

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Authors
Noble, E. E., Hsu, T. M., & Kanoski, S. E.
Affiliations
University of Southern California (US)
Corresponding author
Kanoski, Scott E.
Venue
Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience
Published
2017-01-30
Volume
11
Pages
9-9
ISSN
1662-5153 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W2574256641
Cited by
333
References
137
Citations by year
2026: 26 · 2025: 30 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 60 · 2022: 37 · 2021: 38 · 2020: 42 · 2019: 26 · 2018: 27 · 2017: 11
FWCI
2.71
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
cc-by
Locations
  • Frontiers in Behavioral Neuroscience (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
National Institute of Diabetes and Digestive and Kidney Diseases (DK104897)
Topics
  • Life Sciences › Biochemistry, Genetics and Molecular Biology › Molecular Biology › Gut microbiota and health
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Nutritional Studies and Diet
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Gastroenterology › Gastrointestinal motility and disorders
Keywords
Western diet, gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, cognitive impairment, hippocampus, memory impairment, intestinal permeability, blood-brain barrier, endotoxin, neuroinflammation, insulin sensitivity, probiotics, prebiotics, dietary fat, added sugars

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