Bifidobacterium Breve A1 Supplementation Improved Cognitive Decline in Older Adults With Mild Cognitive Impairment: An Open-Label, Single-Arm Study

Abstract

Objectives: We previously reported the therapeutic potential of Bifidobacterium breve A1 (B. breve A1) for preventing cognitive impairment in Alzheimer’s disease model mice, which suggested that supplementation of the probiotics could be an effective therapeutic strategy for managing cognitive function in mild cognitive impairment (MCI). Design and settings: We conducted an open-label, single-arm study to examine the effects of 24-week supplementation of B. breve A1 on elderly with MCI in Aki Orthopedics Rehabilitation Clinic in Japan. Participants: 27 participants were screened by their Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) scores. Measurements: Cognitive function was assessed using MMSE and Digit Symbol Substitution Test (DSST) at baseline and every 8 weeks. Mental condition and quality of life for gastrointestinal symptoms were measured using the Profile of Mood States 2nd Edition (POMS2), and the Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Scale (GSRS). Results: Of the 27 participants enrolled, 19 completed the study. MMSE scores were significantly increased during the intervention by mixed model Dunnett’s test and Wilcoxon signed-rank tests (+1.7, P < 0.01). POMS2 and GSRS scores were significantly improved during intervention when analyzed by Wilcoxon signed-rank tests. Conclusion: The present study showed that oral supplementation of B. breve A1 in participants with MCI improved cognitive function, thus suggesting the potential of B. breve A1 for improving cognitive function and maintaining quality of life of the elderly. Further randomized, double-blind placebo-controlled studies are worth conducting to examine the beneficial effect of B. breve A1.

Administration of Bifidobacterium breve Improves the Brain Function of Aβ1-42-Treated Mice via the Modulation of the Gut Microbiome

“…Compared to the control mice, Aβ 1-42 -treated mice developed AD hallmarks, including cognitive deficits, reduced alternation behavior and total arm entries in a Y-maze, a reduced latency time in passive avoidance tests, and a slower acquisition of escape latency in MWM tasks (Figure 2). By contrast, treatment with CCFM1025 or MY improved the outcomes for these mice in all three behavioral tests, consistent with the results of previous studies using Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium probiotic strains that were tested both individually and as cocktails [14,17,18,25].…”

“…Animal studies have previously reported that B. longum CCFM687 supplementation can prevent the onset of depression due to chronic stress [ 28 ], while B. breve CCFMCCFM1025 administration was found to exert antidepressant-like effects [ 39 ]. Randomized controlled trials have also demonstrated that Bifidobacterium intervention improved cognitive decline in those with MCI and severe dementia [ 18 , 25 ]. Taken together with the improved cognitive function we observed for specific B. breve strains, large-scale, multi-center clinical trials may be warranted in the future to identify the specific effect of probiotics on AD patients at different stages of the disease, particularly in the context of the early onset of AD.…”

“…Previous studies have reported that the supplementation of AD mice with probiotics ( Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium ) enhanced learning capacity, significantly reversed impaired alternation behavior, and partially ameliorated cognitive decline via the release of neurotransmitters and the bacterial metabolite acetate [ 14 , 15 ]. Similarly, several clinical studies have indicated that probiotic administration improves cognitive function and metabolic disorders in patients with AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) [ 16 , 17 , 18 ]. In addition, a clinical study revealed that multispecies probiotic interventions influence serum tryptophan metabolism and alter the composition of the gut microbiome in AD patients [ 19 ].…”

Novel Insights into the Role of Probiotics in Respiratory Infections, Allergies, Cancer, and Neurological Abnormalities

“…Additionally, the plasma MDA and hs-CRP levels also showed significant decreases ( p < 0.001) along with the remarkable reductions in homeostatic model assessment for B-cell function (HOMA-B) index compared with control AD subjects without probiotic supplementation. Similarly, in the open-label, single-arm study, B. breve capsule supplementation at the concentration of 2.0 × 10 10 CFU significantly elicited the MMSE score in AD patients following 24 weeks of treatment [ 127 ].…”

Promising Intervention Approaches to Potentially Resolve Neuroinflammation And Steroid Hormones Alterations in Alzheimer’s Disease and Its Neuropsychiatric Symptoms

“…In a study [ 140 ], the authors demonstrated that PBs and selenium co-supplementation for 12 weeks to patients with AD improved cognitive functions and some metabolic profiles. In another study [ 141 ], the authors showed that oral supplementation of Bifidobacterium breve A1 (B. breve A1) in participants with MCI improved cognitive functions.…”