The gut microbiota in neuropsychiatric disorders

Abstract

The purpose of this review is to summarize current knowledge about the gut microbiota in neuropsychiatric disorders. It is estimated that the human gut is colonized by up to 10 18 microorganisms, mostly anaerobic bacteria. The gut microbiome is responsible for multiple functions, e.g. tightness of the intestine barrier, digestion and absorption. The correlation between gut dysbiosis and development of psychiatric, autoimmune and allergic diseases as well as bidirectional communication between brain and gut microflora have been shown. Recent findings suggest that specific bacteria can be involved in the development of clinical conditions, such as Autism Spectrum Disorders, depression and schizophrenia, and microbiota may be a target for therapeutic intervention providing novel treatment strategies.

Signature of Gut Microbiome by Conventional and Advanced Analysis Techniques: Advantages and Disadvantages

“…3 An altered gut microbiome composition not only has been shown linked to the gastrointestinal disorders such as colorectal polyps, 4 colorectal cancer (CRC), 5,6 and celiac disease, 7 but also is associated with non-intestinal disorders such as allergy, 8 asthma, 9,10 obesity, 11,12 non-alcoholic fatty liver, 13 cardiovascular diseases, 13,14 and neuropsychiatric diseases. [15][16][17] These disorders can be attributed to the imbalance of the gut microbiota, which would be referred to as dysbiosis (dysbacteriosis) or dysregulation of gut microbiota. 16…”

Microbiome – The Missing Link in the Gut-Brain Axis. The Focus on Gastrointestinal and Mental Health

“…Indeed, since the concept of bidirectional signalling between the gut and the brain started to evolve, scientists all over the world have made attempts to discover microbial fingerprints in neurology and psychiatry. Emerging research suggested that gut-brain axis dysfunction may be involved in the aetiology of depression and anxiety, schizophrenia, addiction, as well as neurodevelopmental and neurodegenerative diseases and age-related cognitive decline [40][41][42][43][44]. Major microbiota-related alterations in particular neuropsychiatric conditions are summarized in table 1.…”

Probiotics, beyond gastrointestinal health

“…Alterations like dysbiosis generate such weight that have been directly associated with chronic, metabolic, inflammatory non-infectious diseases, and affective disorders of the individual. 1 That is the reason for the current boom in the study of those who help proper maintenance of it, probiotics. The rational use of these, adjunctive tool for various disorders, not only generated an impact according to the nature of its components, but also by environmental changes and due to their antigenic characteristics, signaling for maintenance of the digestive system as the system with better immune performance.…”