Microbiome: A Potential Component in the Origin of Mental Disorders

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Microbiome alterations are observed in psychiatric disorders like depression and bipolar disorder.
• The gut microbiome plays a role in host cell survival and intercellular communication.
• This communication can be both beneficial and detrimental, impacting health and disease.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the association between the gut microbiome and psychiatric disorders.
• To explore the bidirectional communication between the gut microbiome and eukaryotic cells.
• To examine how this communication impacts cognition and behavior.

Main Methods:

• Literature review focusing on the brain-gut axis and microbiome.
• Analysis of molecular messengers involved in brain-gut communication.
• Examination of how microbial modifications affect behavior and cognition.

Main Results:

• Cognition relies significantly on gut flora, consuming substantial energy.
• The gut's complex innervation and immune system mirror brain complexity.
• Brain-gut axis signaling affects bacterial processes, and vice versa.

Conclusions:

• Gut microbiome modifications can lead to altered behavior and cognition.
• The bidirectional communication along the brain-gut axis is crucial for mental health.
• Understanding these pathways may offer novel therapeutic strategies for psychiatric disorders.