Cell Biotech said on the 27th that it has, for the first time, identified in an animal model the mechanism of action by which its patented probiotic "CBT-LR5" improves cognitive impairment.
The research results were published in the SCI(E)-level international journal "Frontiers in Microbiology" and are being evaluated as offering new scientific evidence for the "gut-brain axis" theory that gut health affects brain health.
The research team orally administered CBT-LR5 to mice treated with scopolamine, a substance that impairs learning and memory, and evaluated ▲ behavior-based cognitive ability ▲ changes in the gut microbiome ▲ changes in blood inflammatory markers and brain neurotrophic factors.
As a result, the CBT-LR5 group showed improvements in cognitive function of 24% and 116% in the novel object recognition test (NOR) and the passive avoidance test (PAT), respectively, which are representative cognitive assessments. This is a level similar to the dementia treatment "donepezil." In addition, as beneficial gut bacteria increased and microbial diversity was restored, the team also confirmed that changes in the gut environment play an important role in improving cognitive function.
Positive changes were also observed in blood analyses. The inflammatory markers PGE2 and TNF-α decreased by 50% and 32%, respectively, and the brain-derived neurotrophic factor BDNF increased by 29%. The proteins Claudin-1, Occludin, and ZO-1, which maintain gut barrier and blood-brain barrier function, increased by an average of 146% in the small intestine and 311% in the brain. In addition, the core neuroplasticity signaling pathway "CREB·BDNF·TrkB" increased by an average of 121% in the hippocampus and 91% in the cerebral cortex.
CBT-LR5 is an indigenous strain derived from Koreans and is currently being used in the colorectal cancer breakthrough new drug "PP-P8." It has also obtained GRAS safe ingredient certification from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and is included in the company's probiotic brand Duolac's main products Duolac Gold and Duolac Bioguard.
A Cell Biotech R&D Center official said, "As of 2024, there are about 1.05 million dementia patients aged 65 or older in Korea, and the number is expected to reach 2.26 million by 2040," and added, "This study is an important case showing that the CBT-LR5 probiotic could be a new management strategy that contributes to improving health indicators and quality of life for patients with mild cognitive impairment."