Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis in Ageing and Neurodegeneration

The Magnetic Resonance Imaging protocol will comprise both structural and functional sequences.

Neuropsychological tests will be administered to participants to assess general cognitive state and a range of high-level cognitive functions (memory, executive, language). In addition, disease-specific tests will be administered to patients to investigate disease staging and the level of disability and autonomy.

Information on eating habits will be derived from food questionnaires.

The Microbiome analyses will be derived from a stool sample (16S rRNA sequencing targeted metagenomic analyses).

Inflammatory markers will be evaluated in terms RNA expression level in plasma blood sample.

The Alzheimer's Disease biomarkers will be measured in the plasma of prodromal Alzheimer's Disease patients.