Gut Cequinquevirus is associated with healthy brain ageing

Abstract:

Emerging evidence suggests an important role of the gut microbiome in processes of brain ageing1,2. However, the corresponding role of the gut virome including the phageome is currently ill-defined. Here, metagenomic gut virome profiles from 1655 individuals in the Study of Health in Pomerania (SHIP-TREND-0)3,4 were analysed in conjunction with FreeSurfer brain age scores (FSBA)5,6 derived from magnetic resonance imaging data. Of 124 virus genera, Cequinquevirus presence was significantly associated with reduced FSBA by -2.53 years (95%-confidence interval (CI):(-4.16-0.91), p=3.42e-04, FDR=0.04) Cequinquevirus also associated with alterations in microbial composition, and co-occurring with L. Delbrueckii and L. Paracaseii. L. Delbrueckii presence was associated with lower FSBA as well on a nominally significant level. Analysis of potential mediating clinical parameters was inconclusive. Overall this study provides evidence that gut phages may serve as markers of delayed brain ageing, highlighting Cequinquevirus and its potential implications for the design of interventions aiming at promoting healthy brain ageing.

Additional information:

The remaining metadata presented in this study are not publicly available due to the data use policy of SHIP. However, all SHIP data can be requested from the SHIP transfer office via a data usage application through online forms (SHIP transfer office, link: https://www.fvcm.med.uni-greifswald.de/cm_antrag/index.php).

Data and Resources

Additional Info

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Author Eleftheria G Charalambous, Maryam Gholizadeh, Ameneh Mehrjerd, Stefan Frenzel, Katharina Wittfeld, Corinna Bang, Andre Franke, Norbert Hosten, Uwe Völker, Barbara Bröker, Lars Kaderali, Stefan Simm, Matthias Nauck, Frank-Ulrich Weiß, Markus M Lerch, Henry Völzke, Hans Jörgen Grabe, Johannes Hertel, Panos Zanos, Anna Onisiforou, Fabian Frost
Maintainer Eleftheria G Charalambous
Last Updated March 26, 2025, 14:14 (UTC)
Created March 13, 2025, 10:00 (UTC)