Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40863733›Full record

ArticleMethods and protocols2025

The Effect of Faecal Microbiota Transplantation on Cognitive Function in Cognitively Healthy Adults with Irritable Bowel Syndrome: Protocol for a Randomised, Placebo-Controlled, Double-Blinded Pilot Study.

Sara Alaeddin, Yanna Ko, Genevieve Z Steiner-Lim, Slade O Jensen, Tara L Roberts, Vincent Ho

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Methods and protocols, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Sara AlaeddinSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2751, Australia.
Yanna KoSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2751, Australia.
Genevieve Z Steiner-LimNICM Health Research Institute and Translational Health Research Institute (THRI), Western Sydney University, Westmead 2145, Australia.ORCID 0000-0002-8708-6104
Slade O JensenSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2751, Australia.
Tara L RobertsSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2751, Australia.ORCID 0000-0001-9266-0943
Vincent HoSchool of Medicine, Western Sydney University, Penrith 2751, Australia.ORCID 0000-0003-3127-2933

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Faecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is an emerging therapy for gastrointestinal and neurological disorders, acting via the microbiota-gut-brain axis. Altering gut microbial composition may influence cognitive function, but this has not been tested in cognitively healthy adults. This randomised, double-blinded, placebo-controlled pilot trial investigates whether FMT is feasible and improves cognition in adults with irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Participants receive a single dose of FMT or placebo via rectal retention enema. Cognitive performance is the primary outcome, assessed using the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Secondary outcomes include IBS symptom severity and mood. Tertiary outcomes include microbiome composition and plasma biomarkers related to inflammation, short-chain fatty acids, and tryptophan metabolism. Outcomes are assessed at baseline and at one, three, six, and twelve months following treatment. We hypothesise that FMT will lead to greater improvements in cognitive performance than placebo, with benefits extending beyond practice effects, emerging at one month and persisting in the long term. The findings will contribute to evaluating the safety and efficacy of FMT and enhance our understanding of gut-brain interactions.

Indexed as

cognitive functionfaecal microbiota transplantationgastrointestinal microbiomegut–brain axisirritable bowel syndrome

Identifiers

PMID40863733
PMCPMC12388800

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.