Drugs, Guts, Brains, but Not Rock and Roll: The Need to Consider the Role of Gut Microbiota in Contemporary Mental Health and Wellness of Emerging Adults

Abstract

Emerging adulthood (ages 18–25) is a critical period for neurobiological development and the maturation of the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis. Recent findings also suggest that a natural perturbation of the gut microbiota (GM), combined with other factors, may create a unique vulnerability during this period of life. The GM of emerging adults is thought to be simpler, less diverse, and more unstable than either younger or older people. We postulate that this plasticity in the GM suggests a role in the rising mental health issues seen in westernized societies today via the gut–brain–microbiota axis. Studies have paid particular attention to the diversity of the microbiota, the specific function and abundance of bacteria, and the production of metabolites. In this narrative review, we focus specifically on diet, physical activity/exercise, substance use, and sleep in the context of the emerging adult. We propose that this is a crucial period for establishing a stable and more resilient microbiome for optimal health into adulthood. Recommendations will be made about future research into possible behavioral adjustments that may be beneficial to endorse during this critical period to reduce the probability of a “dysbiotic” GM and the emergence and severity of mental health concerns.

Functional Foods: A Promising Strategy for Restoring Gut Microbiota Diversity Impacted by SARS-CoV-2 Variants

“…In a healthy individual, the gut microbiota is believed to be stable throughout life, and its diversity remains high [59]. In old age or diseased individuals, gut microbiome diversity diminishes, and gut dysbiosis rises, associated with mental impairment, inflammation, and depression [60]. In older adults, it was also identified that the gut microbiota contains reduced levels of specific bacterial groups.…”

Exposure to Antibiotics and Neurodevelopmental Disorders: Could Probiotics Modulate the Gut–Brain Axis?

“…These play several functions in maintaining gut homeostasis, including anti-inflammatory properties. Their effects are mainly mediated by G-protein coupled receptors [ 53 ] and can also trigger regulation of gene expression and epigenetic modulation by histone deacetylases, as reported for butyrate [ 54 ].…”

“…However, some aspects need to be considered and more deeply elucidated, such as the strain specificity, the probiotic dosage, time of treatment, and the precise mechanism of action at the molecular level. Moreover, there are some limitations, including individual differences (i.e., genetic background, environmental factors, diet, gender) and/or the low number of participants which remains a limit in producing high-quality clinical data [ 53 ].…”

The Efficacy of Probiotics as Antiviral Agents for the Treatment of Rotavirus Gastrointestinal Infections in Children: An Updated Overview of Literature

“…Recent evidence-based research shows that the gut microbiota is an ally for the interaction with most human cells via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, microbiotagut-skin axis, microbiota-gut-lung axis, microbiota-gut-liver axis, microbiota-gut-vagina axis, and many more axes. The microbiota thus aids in achieving homeostasis of skin health, respiratory health, organ health, mental health, and so forth of its host [19][20][21][22][23][24][25][26][27][28]. The intestinal microbiota coexists with microbes that reach the intestine through food intake and influences the immune cells associated with the lamina propria through the production of metabolites, crucial for the maturation of immune cells in the mucosal immune system [19,21,29].…”