Our lab's goal is to discover the biological mysteries of how gut metabolites interact with the brain. We were able to demonstrate that particular gastrointestinal metabolites can cause cognitive deterioration with aging. On the other hand, metabolites present throughout young ages can help to compensate for age-related learning and memory deficiencies. Our goal is to discover these metabolites that accumulate in blood and brain tissue with aging in order to neutralize them and protect against age-related disorders. We also intend to discover ways to imitate the favorable effects of metabolites enriched in the young in order to develop novel therapies for vascular dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other aging-related brain illnesses.