Brainstem functional connectivity integrates microbiome-gut-brain signals in healthy older adults: a cross-sectional evaluation and a randomised controlled probiotic trial

Background: Despite increasing interest in the gut-brain axis, the role of the autonomic nervous system and the brainstem in human gut-brain signalling remain largely unknown. Objective: To characterise resting state functional connectivity (FC) of the brainstem in healthy older adults and to examine its association with a variety of factors relevant to ageing and the gut-brain axis, and to assess if brainstem FC is altered by probiotic intervention. Design: Randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled trial in 60-80-year-olds (55 women/28 men) with six-weeks Lacticaseibacillus rhamnosus HN0

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