Gut-Brain Axis and Brain Microbiome Interactions from a Medical Perspective

Background: The gut microbiome directly impacts brain health and activity, meaning the two are closely associated. This relationship suggests a link between microbial imbalances and diseases such as Alzheimer's, although multiple other contributing factors, such as genetics, also play a part. Additionally, recent studies discovered that cerebrospinal fluid has some microbial deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA), which can be interpreted to mean a microbiome exists in the brain too. The vagus nerve and the central nervous and immune systems are responsible for the connection between the brain and gut microbiome. Aims and Objectives: The main aim of this systematic review is to analyze existing research on the gut-brain axis and the brain microbiome to fill the current knowledge gap. Materials and Methods: A search was conducted on the PubMed database based on a set of predefined MeSH terms. Results: After the search, 2716 articles meeting the MeSH parameters were found in PubMed. This list was then downloaded and analyzed according to the inclusion/exclusion criteria, and 63 relevant papers were selected. Discussion: Bacteria in the gut microbiome produce some substances that are considered neuroactive. These compounds can directly or indirectly affect brain function through the gut-brain axis. However, various knowledge gaps on the mechanisms involved in this connection need to be addressed first.

Keywords: brain microbiome; central nervous system; gut microbiome; gut–brain axis; immune system; mechanistic pathways; vagus nerve.

PMID: 40002500 DOI: 10.3390/brainsci15020167