gut microbiota from 120 eldly people in Tongchuan and Xi'an, China Raw sequence reads
The study aimed to reveal the harm of exposure to air particulate pollution, to cognitive function in Gut Brain Axis among rural elderly residents. There were 120 participants recruited in rural villages of northwest China during severe particulate matter pollution in winter. The cognitive level was assessed by 8-item Ascertain Dementia questionnaire, and indoor air particulate matter exposure were measured by air quality sensor. Inflammatory cytokines and oxidative stress-related markers were detected in blood serum. Fecal samples were collected for gut microbiota analysis. Particulate matter exposure is a risk factor for impaired cognition. Indoor particulate pollution exposure impaired cognitive function in elderly people, especially female; early cognitive impairment was manifested by low serum anti-inflammatory and antioxidant levels, and reduced gut microbiota diversity. Indoor particulate pollution exposure may increase the degree of cognitive impairment in elderly, and some bacteria may be considered as biomarkers for very early screening.