Internal medicine

Pathology

Receptor

Placebo

Bifidobacterium longum

Bifidobacterium bifidum

Lactobacillus

Probiotic

Bifidobacterium

Mood

Bacteria

Gut flora

Biology

Fermentation

Psychiatry

Philosophy

Neurotrophic factors

Immunology

Alternative medicine

Stress (linguistics)

Brain-derived neurotrophic factor

Perceived Stress Scale

Linguistics

Food science

Genetics

Medicine

The Journals of Gerontology Series A

Probiotics have been proposed to ameliorate cognitive impairment and depressive disorder via the gut–brain axis in patients and experimental animal models. However, the beneficial role of probiotics in brain functions of healthy older adults remains unclear. Therefore, a randomized, double-blind, and placebo-controlled multicenter trial was conducted to determine the effects of probiotics on cognition and mood in community-dwelling older adults. Sixty-three healthy elders (≥65 years) consumed either placebo or probiotics containing Bifidobacterium bifidum BGN4 and Bifidobacterium longum BORI for 12 weeks. The gut microbiota was analyzed using 16S rRNA sequencing and bioinformatics. Brain functions were measured using the Consortium to Establish a Registry for Alzheimer’s disease, Satisfaction with life scale, stress questionnaire, Geriatric depression scale, and Positive affect and negative affect schedule. Blood brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) was determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Relative abundance of inflammation-causing gut bacteria was significantly reduced at Week 12 in the probiotics group (p &amp;lt; .05). The probiotics group showed greater improvement in mental flexibility test and stress score than the placebo group (p &amp;lt; .05). Contrary to placebo, probiotics significantly increased serum BDNF level (p &amp;lt; .05). Notably, the gut microbes significantly shifted by probiotics (Eubacterium and Clostridiales) showed significant negative correlation with serum BDNF level only in the probiotics group (RS = −0.37, RS = −0.39, p &amp;lt; .05). In conclusion, probiotics promote mental flexibility and alleviate stress in healthy older adults, along with causing changes in gut microbiota. These results provide evidence supporting health-promoting properties of probiotics as a part of healthy diet in the older adults.

Probiotic Supplementation Improves Cognitive Function and Mood with Changes in Gut Microbiota in Community-Dwelling Older Adults: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Multicenter Trial