FECALZ

Abstract: 

Alzheimer’s disease (AD) is a major neurodegenerative disorder, and its diagnosis remains late and invasive. This project aims to develop a reliable, non-invasive tool for early diagnosis by analyzing AD biomarkers in stool samples, based on the ATX(N) classification (Amyloid beta, Tau, Neurotoxicity, Inflammation). Our preliminary work on an APP/PS1 mouse model has shown that the gut plays a key role in the elimination of toxic brain proteins, suggesting that these biomarkers could be detected in feces before the appearance of senile plaques and cognitive symptoms. Based on this, we have launched a clinical study with 135 participants (healthy volunteers, those with mild cognitive impairment, and Alzheimer’s dementia) in collaboration with the Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Grenoble Alpes the CMRR. In parallel with this clinical study, we are unpacking this new clearance mechanism, which involves the brain-gut axis and the blood and, above all, lymphatic networks. The expected results will establish a link between intestinal clearance and the progression of AD, thereby paving the way for accessible screening and early intervention. The project is supported by the Idex IRGA-Innovation 2023 program, and a patent is pending to protect this innovation. The ongoing analyses are expected to lead to scientific publications and the validation of this diagnostic approach by 2027.