Nutrient-Driven Modulation of the Gut Virome and Bacteriome: Implications for Brain Aging and Neurodegeneration
A special issue of Nutrients (ISSN 2072-6643). This special issue belongs to the section "Nutrition and Neuro Sciences".
Deadline for manuscript submissions: 5 April 2026
Special Issue Editors
Interests: aging; immunosenescence; virome; microbiome; cellular senescence; epigenetics; zinc homeostasis; inflammaging; longevity; age-related diseases
Special Issue Information
Dear Colleagues,
Emerging evidence highlights the gut microbiota as a key player in the gut–brain axis, with growing interest in its viral component, the gut virome. While dietary interventions are known to modulate the gut bacteriome, less is understood about how nutrients shape the gut virome and how these changes may influence brain aging and neurodegeneration. This Special Issue aims to explore the complex interplay between diet, gut microbiota (both bacterial and viral), and central nervous system function over the lifespan. We welcome original research and reviews investigating how macronutrients, micronutrients, prebiotics, probiotics, or specific dietary patterns affect gut microbial and viral communities, and how such changes relate to cognitive decline, neuroinflammation, and neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer’s and Parkinson’s disease. Particular emphasis will be placed on studies examining the mechanisms through which nutrient-driven shifts in the bacteriome and virome influence host immune responses, blood–brain barrier integrity, and neuronal health. Contributions utilizing metagenomics, metabolomics, and longitudinal human cohorts or animal models are encouraged. This Special Issue will provide a platform to integrate nutritional science, microbiome research, and neuroscience, advancing our understanding of gut-derived modulators of brain aging and paving the way for novel dietary strategies in the prevention and management of neurodegenerative diseases.
Dr. Robertina Giacconi
Dr. Marta Balietti
Guest Editors
Manuscript Submission Information
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Keywords
- gut virome
- gut bacteriome
- brain aging
- neurodegeneration
- age-related dementia
- dietary modulation
- microbiota–gut–brain axis
- neuroinflammation
- nutrients
- metagenomics
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