Gut-microbiota-brain axis and neuropsychiatric health

Abstract

In this literature review, the evidence and theoretical explanation of the Gut-Microbiota-Brain axis and its role in neuropsychiatric disorders is presented. There is now a paradigm shift in neuroscience toward an increasingly supported understanding of neurobiology in terms of not only the CNS, but also the so-called "second brain" residing in the enteric nervous system of the gut and its resident microbiota. Accordingly, more and more research is looking into the possible role of this second brain in the psychopathology of psychiatric disorders, such as major depressive disorder (MDD) and neurodevelopmental disorders, including attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD). This review outlines a burgeoning explanatory model, which, if further supported by more rigorous studies, has the potential for the development of novel psychiatric treatments via modulation of gut-microbiota dysbiosis with pro/pre-biotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), etc., as well as a theoretically promising avenue to disease prevention via intervention into the gut-microbiota during the neurodevelopmental windows in which we think ADHD and ASD are developed.