The critical role of gut-brain axis microbiome in mental disorders

Metab Brain Dis. 2023 Dec;38(8):2547-2561. doi: 10.1007/s11011-023-01248-w. Epub 2023 Jul 12.

Abstract

The Gut-brain axis is a bidirectional neural and humoral signaling that plays an important role in mental disorders and intestinal health and connects them as well. Over the past decades, the gut microbiota has been explored as an important part of the gastrointestinal tract that plays a crucial role in the regulation of most functions of various human organs. The evidence shows several mediators such as short-chain fatty acids, peptides, and neurotransmitters that are produced by the gut may affect the brain's function directly or indirectly. Thus, dysregulation in this microbiome community can give rise to several diseases such as Parkinson's disease, depression, irritable bowel syndrome, and Alzheimer's disease. So, the interactions between the gut and the brain are significantly considered, and also it provides a prominent subject to investigate the causes of some diseases. In this article, we reviewed and focused on the role of the largest and most repetitive bacterial community and their relevance with some diseases that they have mentioned previously.

Keywords: Alzheimer’s disease; Depression; Gut-brain axis; Irritable bowel syndrome; Microbiota; Parkinson’s disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Alzheimer Disease*
  • Brain
  • Brain-Gut Axis
  • Gastrointestinal Microbiome* / physiology
  • Humans
  • Microbiota*