Microbiota-dependent increase in δ-valerobetaine alters neuronal function and is responsible for age-related cognitive decline

Understanding the physiological origins of age-related cognitive decline is of critical importance given the rising age of the world’s population. Previous work in animal models has established a strong link between cognitive performance and the microbiota, and it is known that the microbiome undergoes profound remodeling in older adults. Despite growing evidence for the association between age-related cognitive decline and changes in the gut microbiome, the mechanisms underlying such interactions between the brain and the gut are poorly understood. Here, using fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), we demonstrate that age-related remodeling of the gut microbiota leads to decline in cognitive function in mice and that this impairment can be rescued by transplantation of microbiota from young animals. Moreover, using a metabolomic approach, we found elevated concentrations of δ-valerobetaine, a gut microbiota-derived metabolite, in the blood and brain of aged mice and older adults. We then demonstrated that δ-valerobetaine is deleterious to learning and memory processes in mice. At the neuronal level, we showed that δ-valerobetaine modulates inhibitory synaptic transmission and neuronal network activity. Finally, we identified specific bacterial taxa that significantly correlate with δ-valerobetaine levels in the brain. Based on our findings, we propose that δ-valerobetaine contributes to microbiota-driven brain aging and that the associated mechanisms represent a promising target for countering age-related cognitive decline.