Alzheimer's disease (ad), a chronic, progressive, and presently incurable condition, affecting millions of americans

Western New England University received a $300,000 Project Grant from the Institute of Food Safety and Nutrition under the Agriculture and Food Research Initiative (AFRI) (CFDA 10.310), effective September 15, 2025 through September 14, 2027. The award supports research investigating blueberry-derived nanocomponent exosomes (BBDEXO) as a potential therapeutic intervention for Alzheimer's disease through modulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis. The project delivers two primary research objectives: (1) evaluation of BBDEXO's protective impact on bioactive compounds during gastrointestinal transit and their cellular uptake and efficacy in targeted microbiota, gut, and brain cells; and (2) investigation of BBDEXO's influence on the microbiota-gut-brain axis using mouse models transplanted with Alzheimer's disease patient microbiota to assess effects on microbiota composition, metabolic profiles, gut functionality, brain inflammation, and cognitive function.

The research aligns with AFRI's Food Safety, Nutrition, and Health priority area and is designed to establish foundational knowledge for developing precision nutrition interventions tailored to individual patient microbiomes. Deliverables include experimental data on bioactive stability and release mechanisms, cellular efficacy assessments, and comprehensive characterization of BBDEXO's effects on the microbiota-gut-brain axis in disease models. The project is conducted at Western New England University's Springfield, Massachusetts location and is intended to contribute significantly to the field of precision nutrition and public health by advancing understanding of nutritional approaches to Alzheimer's disease mitigation.

This project's central hypothesis is that blueberry-derived nanocomponent exosomes (bbdexo) can modulate microbiota metabolites, inhibit GUT inflammation, and alleviate cognitive impairment through the microbiota-GUT-brain (MGB) axis. The long-term goal is to create a precise and personalized blueberry nutrition plan to mitigate the symptoms experienced by ad patients based on their specific GUT microbiome.objective 1 is to evaluate the protective impact of bbdexo on bioactives during GUT transit and its pharmacological activities. We will assess the stability and release of dietary bioactives from bbdexo in simulated GI fluids, and explore cellular uptake and efficacy in targeted microbiota, GUT, and brain cells. Objective 2 aims to investigate the influence of bbdexo on the MGB axis in mouse models transplanted with ad patient microbiota. The effects of bbdexo on microbiota composition, microbiota related metabolic profiles, GUT functionality, GUT production of neuroactive molecules, brain inflammation, and cognitive function in mice will be evaluated. This project, aligning with program area A1343 food and human health, intends to deepen our understanding of blueberry's beneficial effects on the MGB axis and lay the groundwork for developing targeted interventions. IT has the potential to substantially contribute to the field of precision nutrition and public health.