The Microbiota-Gut-Brain Axis as a Key to Neuropsychiatric Disorders: A Mini Review

Abstract

The central nervous system (CNS) is closely related to the gastrointestinal tract, mainly through regulating its function and homeostasis. Simultaneously, the gut flora affects the CNS and plays an essential role in the pathogenesis of neurologic and neuropsychological disorders such as Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease, multiple sclerosis, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis or autism spectrum disorder. The population of gut microorganisms contains more than one billion bacteria. The most common are six phyla: Proteobacteria, Actinomyces, Verucomicrobia, Fusobacteria, and dominant Bacteroides with Firmicutes. The microbiota-gut-brain axis is a bidirectional nervous, endocrine, and immune communication between these two organs. They are connected through a variety of pathways, including the vagus nerve, the immune system, microbial metabolites such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), the enteric nervous system, and hormones. Age, diet, antibiotics influence the balance of gut microorganisms and probably lead to the development of neurodegenerative disorders. In this article, a review is presented and discussed, with a specific focus on the changes of gut microbiota, gut-brain axis, related disorders, and the factors that influence gut imbalance.

Keywords: gut microbiota; neurological disorders; psychiatric disorders.

Figure 1

The gut microbiota–brain axis. Bidirectional communication between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system (CNS). The routes of communication involve the autonomic nervous system (ANS), the enteric nervous system (ENS) and the vagus nerve, the neuroendocrine system, the hypothalamic– pituitary–adrenal (HPA) axis, and the immune pathway.