Multi-Omics Integration Reveals Electroacupuncture Ameliorates Cognitive Impairment in Alzheimer’s Disease via Gut–Brain Axis

TL;DR

Electroacupuncture improves cognitive function in Alzheimer's disease by balancing gut bacteria and reducing inflammation.

Contribution

This study reveals electroacupuncture's multi-target effects on gut-brain axis in Alzheimer's disease.

Findings

EA improved cognitive function and reduced neuronal damage in AD models.

EA rebalanced gut microbiota by increasing beneficial bacteria and decreasing harmful ones.

EA restored purine and phenylpropanoid metabolism and reduced pro-inflammatory metabolites.

Abstract

Background: Alzheimer’s disease (AD) lacks effective therapeutic strategies. Electroacupuncture (EA) offers promising neuroprotective effects, but its underlying mechanisms remain unclear. Objective: To explore the mechanisms of EA’s neuroprotective effects on AD via microbiome and metabolome integration. Methods: Utilizing a well-established model of AD, Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Prone 8 (SAMP8), EA intervention was performed. 16S ribosomal RNA (rRNA) sequencing and serum metabolomics were conducted on SAMP8 mice, SAMP8 mice after EA intervention, and their normal control group Senescence-Accelerated Mouse Resistant 1 (SAMR1) mice. Results: SAMP8 mice were subjected to electroacupuncture (EA) treatment at the Baihui (GV20) and Shenshu (BL23) acupoints for 15 min daily over a period of four weeks. EA enhanced cognitive function and reduced neuronal damage in AD models. The treatment lowered pro-inflammatory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1β) and AD-related pathologies (tau, Aβ1-42). EA also rebalanced gut microbiota by increasing beneficial Gastranaerophilales while decreasing harmful Proteobacteria. Additionally, it restored purine and phenylpropanoid metabolism by regulating key metabolites. Importantly, EA reduced levels of specific metabolites linked to pro-inflammatory bacteria (Sphingomonas, Massilia, Escherichia-Shigella), simultaneously decreasing their abundance. These findings highlight EA’s multi-target effects on neuroinflammation, gut microbiota, and metabolic pathways in AD. Notably, the interactions between EA-regulated key metabolites and AD-related targets, predicted via PubChem and ChEMBL databases, remain computational and have not been validated by experimental studies. Conclusions: EA exerts neuroprotective effects in AD via modulation of gut microbiota and metabolic pathways, representing a novel non-pharmacological therapeutic strategy.

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