Overview

• The npj Aging research analyzed 16S rRNA sequencing and cognitive assessments from 360 participants in the Survey of the Health of Wisconsin.
• Adults with lower gut bacterial diversity and specific microbial imbalances showed a significantly higher likelihood of cognitive impairment.
• Food insecurity in 2022—affecting over 12 percent of U.S. households—was independently linked to poorer gut microbial health and reduced cognitive performance.
• Interpretable machine learning revealed microbial cliques whose ties to cognitive decline varied between those with and without reliable nutrition access.
• The findings underscore calls for public health strategies that integrate nutritional equity initiatives with interventions aimed at improving gut microbiome wellness.