Impact of Antibiotic Oral Infusions on the Development of Cognitive Dysfunctions

Cognitive impairment was observed as a serious mental health problem ranging from mild cognitive loss to dementia. This cognitive impairment was stated as impairment in the gut microbiota-brain communication. In a healthy state, gut microbiota plays an unavoidable role in the regulation of cognitive functions like memory formation, anxiety, stress and mood. However, the stated cognitive functions may be hindered by the aberration of gut microbiota through pathogenic colonization/continuous antibiotic intake during disease conditions. Imbalance in this gut microflora further results in the development of oral/gut dysbiosis. Formed oral/gut dysbiosed state shows a decrease in the production of neurotransmitter precursor compounds (NPCs) in the gut, which has an impact on impaired cognitive memory formation. Recent reports have shown that colonization of periodontal/non-periodontal pathogens results in the formation of cognitive decline during dysbiosed state in oral/gut microbiota. The present study made an initial attempt to study the impact of antibiotic oral intake on cognitive memory formation through oral/gut dysbiosis. A comparative two-phased behavioral analysis [primary phase of behavioral studies (PPBS) and secondary phase of behavioral studies (SPBS)] was used to study the impact of antibiotics on the development of cognitive dysfunctions based on a reward-based learning paradigm (RBLP). Results of the present study showed that gentamicin sulphate oral infusions result in the development of cognitive impairment through the formation of oral/gut dysbiosis. Obtained behavioral scores showed that repeated antibiotic intake may result in the development of cognitive dysfunctions through oral/gut dysbiosis. The formed oral/gut dysbiosis results in the development of impaired LTM formation in the infused behavioral study groups compared to non-infused behavioral study groups. Thus the present study proved that intake of antibiotics in a higher concentration or for a longer period may result in the development of cognitive dysfunctions.