RECENT ADVANCES IN GUT MICROBIOTABRAIN INTERACTIONS: EMERGING INSIGHTS AND THERAPEUTIC IMPLICATIONS FOR NEURODEGENERATIVE AND NEUROPSYCHIATRIC DISORDERS

Abstract

Gut microbiota, also considered as the “second brain” play a pivotal role in regulating the physiological conditions as well as several neurochemical pathways through bidirectional communication in the gut-brain axis. The bidirectional pathway between microflora and the brain consists of vagus nerve, neuroendocrine, and immune system components. It indicates that a variety of neurodevelopmental, neurodegenerative, and neuropsychiatric disorders may be influenced by gut microorganisms, which may also affect behaviour, modify neurotransmission, and structure of brain development. The aim of this review article focused on the correlation between gut microflora and the brain and understand the significant role of gut microbiome in neurodegenerative disorder. The neuro-active metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids, neurotransmitters, and hormones derived from gut microbes can alter the enteric and central nervous system which causes various neurological diseases including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, Huntington disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, and schizophrenia. It has been established that altering the gut microbiota has positive impacts on neural networks, which delay the development of neurological diseases. Consequently, the adjustment of gut microbiota via tailored dietary approaches and oral bacteriotherapy could result in changes to gut microbiota and their byproducts. Therefore, this approach may offer a new therapeutic avenue for the medical treatment of neurodegenerative diseases.

DOI - https://doi.org/10.65525/SVUP.9788198800473.2025.9-30