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Microbiome and cognitive impairment: Can any diets influence learning processes in a positive way?
Novotny et al. (2019) performed a literature review to summarize human intestinal microbiome’s impact on cognitive impairments and the influences of diet and eating habits on learning processes, since greater knowledge in these areas would revolutionize the possibilities of therapy for many diseases. The review learnt that the digestive tube is inhabited by billions of living microorganisms (viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, microscopic fungi) and that the microbiome in the intestines remain relatively steady in adulthood under physiological conditions. The maintenance of a steady microbiome relies on genetics, lifestyle, diet and eating habits, geography, and age, the reviewers found. The gastrointestinal tract and the brain communicate with each other through several pathways, and specific diets and eating habits can have a positive effect on a balanced microbiota composition and thus contribute to the enhancement of cognitive functions, which are important for any learning process. The review also highlights that new pieces of evidence appear on an annual basis on the association between intestinal dysbiosis and neurological/psychiatric diseases. [NPID: microbiome, gut-brain axis, gut microbiota, gut bacteria, gastrointestinal tract, digestion, cognition, viruses, bacteria, protozoa, helminths, microscopic fungi, genetics, lifestyle, geography, dysbiosis, neurological diseases, psychiatric diseases]
Year: 2019
