Microbial Determinants of Dementia Risk in Type 2 Diabetics of Mexican Descent

Type 2 diabetes (T2D) predisposes individuals to neurodegeneration and dementia, including Alzheimer's Disease (AD); yet the link between metabolic and neurodegenerative disorders remains unknown. Here, the investigators will study a well-defined human population with increased prevalence and early onset of both T2D and AD, individuals of Mexican descent living in South Texas. The study will begin to explore the possibility that disruption of the structure of the bacterial community residing in the gut in type 2 diabetic individuals of Mexican descent living in South Texas is directly related to the increased prevalence of early onset AD in this population. In this study, the investigators will perform gene sequencing on DNA isolated from fecal samples to identify and compare the populations of bacteria living in individuals with T2D versus non-diabetic controls. The investigators will analyze the findings to determine if the community structure of the gut microbiome of individuals of Mexican descent with T2D is significantly altered compared to that of non-diabetics within the same population. The investigators' findings could lead to the identification of early indicators of dementia onset as well as novel therapies for treating metabolic and neurodegenerative diseases.