Can a Bug in the Gut Act Like a Drug in the Brain?
Microorganisms inhabiting the gut exist in a symbiotic relationship with our bodies, performing many essential metabolic tasks for human physiology. The gut-brain axis is a bidirectional communication system integrating neural, hormonal, and immunological signaling between the gut and brain. There is strong experimental evidence from animal studies that the intestinal microbiome has an important role in the control of brain development, function, and behavior. A small number of clinical studies, mainly in healthy individuals, using probiotic formulations as an experimental probe suggest that gut bugs may indeed act like a drug and affect the brain, but much more work is needed.
Robert H
RH
Howland
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology; D000069196:Gastrointestinal Microbiome / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000523:psychology*; D019936:Probiotics / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology*