Probiotic treatment targeting the gut for early and mild Alzheimer's
Gut microbiome intervention in preclinical and clinical Alzheimer's disease
This study tests whether taking a custom probiotic for 24 weeks is safe and practical for people with early Alzheimer's brain changes or mild Alzheimer's dementia.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11368475 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would be randomly assigned to take either a custom probiotic or a placebo without knowing which one you receive. The treatment period is 24 weeks with visits at baseline, 12, 24, 36 weeks and one year to track safety, thinking skills, blood biomarkers, and stool samples. The trial includes people with mild Alzheimer's dementia and people who are cognitively normal but have positive brain amyloid (preclinical Alzheimer's). The team will also look for biological signs that changing gut bacteria might affect the brain.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Ideal candidates are adults with mild Alzheimer's dementia or people who are cognitively unimpaired but test positive for brain amyloid (preclinical Alzheimer's).
Not a fit: People with advanced Alzheimer's, non-amyloid dementias, or those who cannot take probiotics for medical reasons are unlikely to benefit from this early-phase trial.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the probiotic could offer an accessible, low-risk way to change gut bacteria that might slow or alter Alzheimer-related brain changes.
How similar studies have performed: Early lab and animal studies and a few small human studies suggest the gut can influence Alzheimer's biology, but randomized probiotic trials in people with Alzheimer's are limited and remain largely unproven.
Where this research is happening
Madison, United States
- University of Wisconsin-Madison — Madison, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Bendlin, Barbara Brigitta — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Bendlin, Barbara Brigitta
About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.