Effect of Encapsulated Vs Free Probiotic on Brain Function

Inclusion criteria

• Signed informed consent prior to any study-related procedure
• Age 60-80 years-old
• Normal weight at the screening defined as BMI range 18.5-31.9
• Willing to abstain from regular consumption of probiotic supplements or food products containing probiotic bacteria (including fermented food and beverages)
• Willing to abstain from regular consumption of supplements and medications known to alter gastrointestinal function or inflammatory status during the study

Exclusion criteria

• Diagnosis of type 1 and/or type 2 diabetes
• Current (or within the last 4 weeks prior to study start) use of probiotic supplementation
• Immobile (defined as the inability to participate in all study-related procedures)
• History of complicated gastrointestinal surgery
• Diagnosed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)
• Current diagnosis of psychiatric disease/s or syndromes
• Current diagnosis of neurodegenerative disease
• Systemic use of antibiotics and/or steroid medication in the last 4 months prior to inclusion
• Use of any non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug (NSAID) more than 3 times a week for the last 2 months
• Consumption of any NSAID within 7 days of study start
• Any condition which could substantially interfere with intestinal barrier function (e.g. gluten sensitivity, lactose intolerance, celiac disease, irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), IBD) or in any other way with the outcome of the study, as decided by the principle investigator's discretion
• Regular smoking, use of snuff, nicotine, cannabidiol narcotics/supplements, or e-cigarette use
• Drinking more than 9 standard cups of alcohol per week and/or more than 3 standard cups of alcohol per occasion
• Regular use, for more than three times a week for the last 2 months and/or 7 days prior to inclusion, of medications which according to the principal investigator can have an anti-inflammatory effect or affect in any way the intestinal barrier function or have an impact on the study analysis (such as laxatives, anti-diarrheal, anti-cholinergic, etc.)
• After being included in the study, starting any medication or treatment that could potentially influence the study participation and/or study analysis
• Cerebral bleeding or history of cerebral bleeding
• Claustrophobia
• In operated apparatus (e.g., pacemaker), as it interferes with MR imaging
• Aneurysm clips in the head
• Shunts in the head
• Grenade-splinter or metal-splinter in the body (e.g., eyes)
• Metal or electrodes in the body (e.g., temp-catheter, aorta stent, cochlear implant)
• Comprehensive tooth-implants or prosthesis
• Operated in the head
• Operated in the heart
• Swallowed a video-capsule, which may still be in the GI tract
• Left-handed