Bile acids and neurological disease.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Gastroenterology
• Pharmacology

Background:

• Bile acids play key roles in the gut-liver-brain axis, influencing normal brain function and neurological diseases.
• Their synthesis, regulation, and signaling pathways are complex and differ between the gut and brain.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review the clinical applications of bile acids in treating neurological diseases.
• To examine the physiological and pathophysiological roles of bile acids in the brain.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on bile acid synthesis, receptors, and their interaction with the gut microbiome.
• Examination of pharmacological tools and clinical trials targeting bile acid pathways for neurological disorders.

Main Results:

• Bile acid receptors are expressed in the brain, affecting glucose and lipid metabolism.
• Gut microbiome dysregulation, aging, and sex differences can disrupt bile acid signaling, potentially causing neurological disorders.

Conclusions:

• Bile acids represent a promising therapeutic target for neurological diseases.
• Clinical trials are actively exploring pharmacological treatments modulating bile acid receptors for neurodegenerative conditions.