Reframing the Teenage Wasteland: Adolescent Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis

Abstract

Human adolescence is arguably one of the most challenging periods of development. The young adult is exposed to a variety of stressors and environmental stimuli on a backdrop of significant physiological change and development, which is especially apparent in the brain. It is therefore unsurprising that many psychiatric disorders are first observable during this time. The human intestine is inhabited by trillions of microorganisms, and evidence from both preclinical and clinical research focusing on the established microbiota-gut-brain axis suggests that the etiology and pathophysiology of psychiatric disorders may be influenced by intestinal dysbiosis. Provocatively, many if not all of the challenges faced by the developing teen have a documented impact on these intestinal commensal microbiota. In this review, we briefly summarize what is known about the developing adolescent brain and intestinal microbiota, discuss recent research investigating the microbiota-gut-brain axis during puberty, and propose that pre-and probiotics may prove useful in both the prevention and treatment of psychiatric disorders specifically benefitting the young adult.Abré gé L'adolescence humaine est sans aucun doute l'une des périodes les plus difficiles du développement. Le jeune adulte est exposé à une variété de stresseurs et de stimuli environnementaux dans un contexte de changement et de développement physiologique significatif, qui est spécialement apparent dans le cerveau. Il n'est donc pas étonnant que nombre de troubles psychiatriques sont d'abord observables à cette période. L'intestin humain est habité de mille milliards de microorganismes, et des données probantes d'études cliniques et précliniques portant sur l'axe établi microbiote-intestin-cerveau suggèrent que l'étiologie et la pathophysiologie des troubles psychiatriques peuvent être influencées par la dysbiose intestinale. Disons audacieusement que les nombreuses sinon toutes les difficultés avec lesquelles l'adolescent en développement est aux prises ont un impact documenté sur ces microbiotes intestinaux commensaux. Dans cette revue, nous résumons brièvement ce qui est connu du cerveau en développement de l'adolescent et des microbiotes intestinaux, nous discutons de la recherche récente sur l'axe microbiote-intestin-cerveau durant la puberté, et nous proposons que les pré-biotiques et les pro-biotiques peuvent se révéler utiles dans la prévention et le traitement des troubles psychiatriques qui touchent spécifiquement le jeune adulte.Keywords adolescence, microbiota-gut-brain axis, development, psychiatric illnesses, early life challenges, probiotics, hypothalamicpituitary-adrenal axis, brain plasticity, critical windows HighlightsThe young adult is exposed to numerous challenges and stressors during adolescence, a period in which the brain is still developing and many psychiatric disorders first manifest.

Behavioural and neurochemical consequences of chronic gut microbiota depletion during adulthood in the rat

“…Therefore these data agree with the concept of critical windows during development and adolescence for microbial influence over anxiety circuits (Foster and McVey Neufeld, 2013;Borre et al, 2014;McVey Neufeld et al, 2016). However, transient gut-microbiota manipulations such as infection, antibiotics, probiotics do impact anxiety during adulthood (Bercik et al 2011;Bercik et al 2010;Bravo et al 2011;Messaoudi et al 2010;Lyte et al 2006;Goehler et al 2007).…”

The microbiome as a novel paradigm in studying stress and mental health.

“…The degree to which hormonal influences in early puberty may contribute to these trends indirectly by influencing the enteric microbiota remains to be empirically examined (Rea et al, in press). Indeed, even normative changes in the enteric microbiota in adolescence remains poorly characterized, as most studies on developmental differences have focused on early infancy and old age (McVey Neufeld, Luczynski, Dinan, & Cryan, 2016; McVey Neufeld, Luczynski, Seira Oriach, Dinan, & Cryan, in press). Future research in this area is a necessary first step in establishing a reference point for understanding aberrations in the enteric microbiota in relation to adolescent psychopathology.…”

Drunk bugs: Chronic vapour alcohol exposure induces marked changes in the gut microbiome in mice

“…Recently, a growing body of evidence points to the presence of a microbiota-gut-brain axis. Indeed, preclinical studies have associated commensal bacteria to hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) signalling [1], neurodevelopment processes [2], such as myelination [3], in addition to various behavioural phenotypes [1]. Currently, however, there remains only a limited set of studies focusing on microbiota change in substance abuse, including alcohol use disorder [4–6].…”