Gut Microbiota-Brain Axis in Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Association with Neuroinflammation and Cognitive Dysfunction

Abstract

Diabetes mellitus Type 2 (T2DM) is a metabolic disorder that is now emerging as a risk factor for cognitive dysfunction, neuroinflammation, and gut microbiota changes. The gut microbiota – brain axis is a bidirectional communication system with links between intestinal microorganisms and the central nervous system via immune, endocrine, neural, and metabolic systems. Dysbiosis could be responsible for intestinal barrier dysfunction, systemic inflammation, changed production of microbial metabolites, and compromised integrity of the blood–brain barrier. The mechanisms may have implications for neuroinflammatory pathways and cognition in T2DM patients. The aim of this proposed study is to assess the correlation between gut microenvironment and inflammatory markers, metabolic control, and cognition in T2DM adults with healthy controls. A cross-sectional dataset is provided to illustrate the presentation of microbial diversity, inflammatory markers, cognitive scores, and correlation analyses. The proposed outcomes show the potential for decreased microbial diversity and the production of different short-chain fatty acids to coincide with increased inflammatory markers and decreased cognitive performance. However, these are simulated results and are not able to prove causation or provide observed clinical evidence. Knowing more about the gut microbiota–brain axis could lead to the discovery of novel biomarkers and targets for diabetes-related cognitive dysfunction. This work highlights the potential role of type 2 diabetes mellitus in the gut–brain axis and cognition, as well as gut microbiota, short-chain fatty acids, and intestinal permeability.