Akkermansia muciniphila: A Key Player in Cognition and Memory

Over the past year or two, the phrase I’ve heard most often from friends is:

“My brain / memory is getting worse and worse!”

“Am I really developing dementia?”

Today, we're taking a closer look at a hidden gem. Not only is it expected to become a leader among second-generation probiotics over the next 5-10 years, but it has also emerged as a promising candidate for supporting memory and cognitive health.

That gem is Akkermansia muciniphila (AKK).

Alleviate neuroinflammation

For most people, elevated inflammatory factors in a suboptimal health state are key drivers of brain aging and cognitive decline. Interleukin-6 (IL-6) in particular is linked to neurodegeneration, which is why many cognitive-enhancing drugs or active ingredients specifically target IL-6.

For example, in aged animals with elevated IL-6 levels, treatment with an IL-6 monoclonal antibody significantly improved performance in maze tests and novel object recognition tasks.

AKK intervention first reduces IL-6 levels, producing effects similar to those observed with IL-6 monoclonal antibody treatment. However, when blood IL-6 levels rise again, the cognitive benefits associated with AKK are significantly diminished. [1]

Another study published in an APS journal in 2023 found that AKK activate Toll-like receptor 2 (TLR2) via the membrane protein Amuc_1100, thereby reducing levels of pro-inflammatory factors such as TNF-α and IL-6 in the blood and various organ tissues, while increasing levels of anti-inflammatory factors. Consequently, AKK can exert a modulatory effect on brain tissue and neuroinflammation. [2]

Promote neuroprotection

Chronic sleep deprivation can impair attention, cognitive function, and memory. In more severe cases, it may even increase the risk of neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's disease. Studies have shown that sleep deprivation stimulates microglia to excessively phagocytose synapses, leading to cognitive impairment. [3][4]

Supplementation with AKK has been shown to increase levels of beneficial short-chain fatty acids in the gut, helping to inhibit excessive microglial activation and reduce synaptic loss in the brain. [5]

Promoting neural stem cell development

Neural development during infancy and early childhood is critical. What many people don't realize, however, is that a mother's microbiota and metabolic byproducts can have a significant and long-lasting impact on fetal stem cell development.

A groundbreaking study published in Cell Stem Cell offers insights. Researchers from the Chinese Academy of Sciences found that supplementing pregnant mice with AKK resulted in significantly more active neural stem cells in their offspring just three days after birth, along with a marked increase in hippocampal neurogenesis. [6]

The effects of AKK on neural development extended well beyond infancy. Even at 10 months of age, offspring from AKK-supplemented mothers exhibited significantly reduced anxiety-like behaviors. Researchers suggest that these benefits may be linked to AKK's ability to repair the intestinal mucosa.

Summary

AKK plays a crucial role in reducing inflammation, promoting neuroprotection, and enhancing the development of neural stem cells in the brain and gut.

As a highly sought-after next-generation probiotic, AKK offers benefits that extend beyond brain health. Because its primary function is to modulate the gut environment, its effects can influence multiple systems throughout the body.

In addition to supporting cognitive function through the "gut-brain axis", AKK has been associated with benefits for liver health through the "gut-liver axis",respiratory health through the "gut-lung axis," and skin health through the gut-skin axis- the list goes on and on.

AKK is truly fascinating. In the next post, we'll take an even deeper look at its potential and the growing body of research behind it.