Exploring the Gut-Brain Axis: Implications for Mental Health and Neurological Disorders

Abstract

The intricate connection between the gut and the brain, known as the gut-brain axis, and its implications for mental health and neurological disorders. The gut-brain axis represents a bidirectional communication system linking the gastrointestinal tract with the central nervous system, mediated by neural, endocrine, and immune pathways. Emerging research suggests that disturbances in the gut microbiota composition, as well as intestinal barrier dysfunction, inflammation, and immune dysregulation, may contribute to the pathogenesis of various psychiatric and neurological conditions, including depression, anxiety, autism spectrum disorders, and Parkinson's disease. Understanding the interplay between the gut and the brain holds promise for developing novel therapeutic approaches, such as probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, and fecal microbiota transplantation, to modulate gut microbiota composition and improve mental health and neurological outcomes. This review highlights the potential of targeting the gut-brain axis as a promising avenue for advancing the treatment and management of psychiatric and neurological disorders.