Effects of a 6-months Fiber- and Polyphenol-rich Diet on Brain Inflammatory Processes in Perimenopausal Women Living With Overweight or Obesity

People living with obesity have a higher risk of late-life cognitive decline and developing dementia. In women, the risk of cognitive decline may further raise during the menopausal transition, a period of substantial hormonal and metabolic changes. Recent studies suggest that a healthy diet could help to prevent neurocognitive disorders by reducing inflammatory processes in the body and brain. Emerging evidence further indicates that the gut-brain axis and the intestinal microbiome play a crucial role in mediating this effect, through metabolic, immune, neuronal and vascular routes. Modifying the gut microbiota may thus counteract the heightened systemic inflammation seen in obesity and during menopausal transition to eventually benefit brain health. Specifically, plant-based nutirents, such as fibre and polyphenols, have microbiome-changing, anti-inflammatory and neuroprotective prop