Enteric Nervous System and Its Relationship with Neurological Diseases

Area of Science:

• Neurogastroenterology and gut-brain axis research.
• Investigating the enteric nervous system (ENS) and its role in neurological disorders.

Background:

• The enteric nervous system (ENS) is a complex neural network within the gastrointestinal tract.
• It communicates bidirectionally with the central nervous system (CNS) via the gut-brain axis.
• The ENS's autonomous function and CNS connection are crucial for gastrointestinal and neurological health.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review neurological pathologies associated with the enteric nervous system (ENS).
• To explore the ENS's potential as an early diagnostic marker and therapeutic target for neurological diseases.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search of the PubMed database was performed.
• Articles were filtered for human studies published within the last ten years and available in free format.

Main Results:

• The ENS is implicated in various neurological conditions, including autism spectrum disorder, Parkinson's disease, and varicella zoster virus (VZV) infections.
• Gastrointestinal symptoms linked to ENS dysfunction can precede CNS symptoms by years, as seen in Parkinson's disease.
• The ENS offers potential for early diagnosis and treatment, though challenges in standardization and neuronal distribution exist.

Conclusions:

• The enteric nervous system (ENS) presents a significant opportunity for early neurological disease detection and therapeutic intervention.
• Further research is essential to fully understand the ENS's organization, function, and regenerative capabilities for improved disease prognosis.