  Alzheimer's disease (AD), a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder, remains
one of the foremost public health challenges of our time. Despite decades of
research, its etiology largely remains enigmatic. Recently, attention has
turned to the gut-brain axis, a complex network of communication between the
gastrointestinal tract and the brain, as a potential player in the pathogenesis
of AD. Here we exploited X-ray Phase Contrast Tomography to provide an in-depth
analysis of the link between the gut condition and AD, exploring gut anatomy
and structure in murine models. We conducted a comprehensive analysis by
comparing the outcomes in various mouse models of cognitive impairment,
including AD, frail mice, and frontotemporal dementia (FTD) affected mice. We
discovered an association between substantial changes in the gut structure and
the presence of amyloid-beta (A\b{eta}) in the brain. We found that the most
important gut alterations are related to A\b{eta} occurrence in the brain. In
particular, we investigated the gut morphology, the distribution of enteric
micro-processes and neurons in the ileum. Understanding the intricate interplay
between gut condition and dementia may open new avenues for early AD diagnosis
and treatment offering hope for a future where these diseases may be more
effectively addressed.
