47.4 psychobiotics: treating mental illness through microbiome manipulation

A gut-brain axis has been recently proposed to explain observed effects of gut microbiota on brain and behavior. Gut microbiota can affect brain processes through the regulation of inflammation and immune function, secretion of small molecules and neurotransmitters, and modulation of vagal signaling. Accumulating evidence from preclinical rodent work and preliminary human trials suggests a role for microbiota in mood, anxiety, stress, social functioning, and cognition. Thus, prebiotic and probiotic strategies aimed at favorably modulating the microbiome have begun to be tested.
Source: Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry - Category: Psychiatry Authors: Source Type: research