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REVIEW article

Front. Neurosci.
Sec. Neurodegeneration
Volume 18 - 2024 | doi: 10.3389/fnins.2024.1481390

Gut-Brain Axis and Neurodegeneration: Mechanisms and Therapeutic Potentials

Provisionally accepted
Yao Gao Yao Gao 1*Kelly J. Park Kelly J. Park 2
  • 1 Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States
  • 2 Pomfret School, Pomfret, Connecticut, United States

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    This paper reviews the effects of gut microbiota in regulating neurodegenerative diseases through controlling gut-brain axis. Specific microbial populations and their metabolites (short-chain fatty acids and tryptophan derivatives) regulate neuroinflammation, neurogenesis and neural barrier integrity. We then discuss ways by which these insights lead to possible interventions -probiotics, prebiotics, dietary modification, and fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT). We also describe what epidemiological and clinical studies have related certain microbiota profiles with the courses of neurodegenerative diseases and how these impact the establishment of microbiome-based diagnostics and individualized treatment options. We aim to guide microbial ecology research on this key link to neurodegenerative disorders and also to highlight collaborative approaches to manage neurological health by targeting microbiome-related factors.

    Keywords: gut-brain axis 1, neurodegeneration, Neuroinflammation, gut microbiota metabolites, mechanisms, Therapeutic potentials

    Received: 15 Aug 2024; Accepted: 07 Oct 2024.

    Copyright: © 2024 Gao and Park. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Yao Gao, Boston Children's Hospital, Harvard Medical School, Boston, United States

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.