Microbes and mental health: A review

While a gut-brain axis has been used to describe the complex networks and relationships between the microbiota and the central nervous system (CNS) via autonomic, neuroendocrine, enteric, and immune system pathways, Rieder et al. (2017) explain here that when these networks are disturbed, it could have a great impact on health and disease. It is believed that hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA)-axis activation, and altered activity of neurotransmitter and immune systems may be involved in these effects. Perturbations of the microbial populations in the gastrointestinal tract have been implicated in various diseases such as obesity, diabetes, and inflammation, while the microbiota-gut-brain axis has been associated with neuropsychiatric disorders. The purpose of this review was to analyze the influence of the gut microbiota on the functioning of the central nervous system, while examining the link with anxiety and depressive symptoms. The reviewers discuss the involvement of stress and stress-mediated changes in autonomic, neuroendocrine, immune, and neurotransmitter systems, as well as the potential therapeutic use of the microbiota and the gastrointestinal tract in the prevention and treatment of psychological disorders such as anxiety and depression. [NPID: microbiome, MGBA, gut-brain axis, gut microbiome, enteric nervous system, immunity, HPA axis, obesity, diabetes, inflammation, neuropsychiatric disorders, anxiety, depression, autonomic, neuroendocrine, immune, neurotransmitter systems, GI tract]

Year: 2017

Reference: Rieder, R., Wisniewski, P. J., Alderman, B. L., & Campbell, S. C. (2017). Microbes and mental health: A review. Brain, behavior, and immunity, 66, 9–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.bbi.2017.01.016

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