Chronic cerebral hypoperfusion (CCH) causes cognitive impairment through BBB disruption, neuroinflammation, mitochondrial dysfunction, neuronal injury, and synaptic impairment, with gut microbiota dysbiosis potentially worsening these effects. Reduced microbiota-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) may contribute to neurological damage, while SCFAs may protect the brain by regulating neuroinflammation, BBB integrity, mitochondrial function, apoptosis, and synaptic plasticity. Thus, targeting the gut microbiota–SCFA pathway through probiotics, prebiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation, or SCFA supplementation may offer a promising strategy for CCH-associated cognitive impairment, although clinical validation is still needed.
Source : https://link.springer.com/article/10.1186/s10020-026-01616-z