Cross Talk: The Microbiota and Neurodevelopmental Disorders.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Microbiology
• Psychiatry

Background:

• Human physiology is intricately linked with the gut microbial ecosystem.
• The gut microbiota communicates with the brain through various pathways, including the immune system, vagus nerve, and microbial metabolites.
• Emerging research suggests the gut microbiota's role in cognitive networks, particularly in emotional and social domains relevant to neurodevelopmental disorders.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the potential role of gut microbiota in the origins and development of social and emotional aspects of Autism Spectrum Disorders (ASD) and schizophrenia.
• To synthesize pre-clinical and clinical evidence regarding the gut-brain axis in these conditions.

Main Methods:

• Review of pre-clinical (animal) studies.
• Analysis of preliminary clinical findings from human studies.
• Examination of host-microbe interactions, including immune signaling, vagal nerve pathways, and microbial metabolites like short-chain fatty acids (SCFA).

Main Results:

• Preliminary clinical studies indicate alterations in gut microbiota composition in individuals with ASD and schizophrenia compared to healthy controls.
• Pre-clinical evidence suggests the gut microbiota can influence brain development, function, and behavior, including social and emotional domains.

Conclusions:

• The gut microbiota is a potential factor in the development of social and emotional dysregulation seen in ASD and schizophrenia.
• Further large-scale longitudinal clinical trials with a systems-level approach are required to establish clinical relevance and mechanistic insights.