The gut–brain axis is now recognized as an important contributor to mental health conditions and neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease (AD). Microbial imbalances and a dysfunctional intestinal barrier have been shown to be altered in several of these conditions. Diet, notably dietary fibers, modulate the composition and function of the microbiome, with overall positive impact on intestinal integrity. In this symposium, our first speaker (Dr Krista Power) will provide an overview of the role of fibres on microbiota and through pre-clinical studies, will discuss how dietary flaxseed and flaxseed oil differentially modulate systemic and neuro-inflammation. Our second speaker (Dr Yvonne Nolan) will focus on AD. Specifically, she will present findings from a recent study where, using faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), her team showed that colonization of healthy young adult rats with gut microbiota from Alzheimer’s patients induced behavioural and neurogenic alterations typical of Alzheimer’s disease. Learning objectives: 1) To appreciate the differential role of dietary fibres in systemic and neuro-inflammation; 2) To be cognizant of the faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) technique as an experimental tool to investigate if gut microbiota cause changes in key elements of Alzheimer’s disease i.e. memory, neurogenesis; 3) To appreciate the role of diet and the gut-microbiota as powerful targets for lowering the risk of dementia
Guylaine Ferland is a professor of nutrition at Université de Montréal and scientist at the Montreal Heart Institute Research Centre. She is an expert in vitamin K metabolism and her team has made significant contributions to the role of this nutrient in brain function and cognition. In addition to her work in vitamin K, Dr. Ferland conducts research on the general role of nutrition in cognitive health during aging. In recent years she has been PI of the CIHR-funded NutCog Study, a Quebec cohort study aimed at better understanding the modulatory role of nutrition and metabolic states in cognitive aging. She is currently the lead of the Nutrition, Exercise and Lifestyle team of the Canadian Consortium in Neurodegeneration in Aging. Dr. Ferland’s research activities include both animal models and human studies, and receive funding from CIHR and FRQ-S. She is the author/co-author of >140 peer-reviewed publications and totals >110 guest presentations. Dr Ferland has served as nutrition expert on various panels, notably the DRI Micronutrient Panel [Institute of Medicine, NAS, USA]. A member of Canadian Nutrition Society since its creation in 2010, Guylaine has served in various capacities (i.e. Awards Committee, Advisory Board, Nomination Committee, Board of Directors), and was President in 2019-2021. She is currently a member of the Membership Committee of the American Society for Nutrition (since 2020). She is a frequent reviewer for nutrition journals, and regularly serves as a member of CIHR review panels where she was recognized as an “Outstanding Reviewer” in 2023-2024.