A recent study published in the journal MedComm reviewed the potential role of the gut microbiota-brain axis (GBA) in neurological disorders. Microbiota is a crucial determinant of human health and disease. The human gastrointestinal (GI) tract hosts the majority of the microbiota, which co-evolves with the host organism.
Evidence suggests that a bidirectional communication network, i.e., the GBA, exists between the central nervous system (CNS) and the gut microbiota.
Studies suggest that the gut microbiota plays a role in neurodevelopment, neuroinflammation, emotion and behavior regulation, and cognitive processes. As such, the gut microbiota is a multi-functional target with immense potential in treating neurological disorders. In the present study, researchers reviewed the role of GBA in neurological disorders.
Bidirectional communication between the gut and the brain. The main communication pathways between microbes and the brain include neural pathways, immune pathways, and metabolic signals. Gut disorders send signals to the brain via the vagus nerve, and a decrease in beneficial bacteria and an increase in proinflammatory bacteria cause altered levels of microbial metabolites, including neurotransmitters, SCFA, and indole metabolites.
The deposition of characteristic proteins in neurodegenerative diseases has also been associated with gut microbiota (Aβ in AD; αSyn in PD). These signals stimulate glial cells in the brain, the expression of proinflammatory genes, neur.