Throughout our existence, our organs keep on changing and regenerating with no interruption. This path ensures that development, proper functioning, and aging processes are regulated to avoid damage caused by unhealthy components. As organs work in complex organisms, they cannot function in isolation, but are influencing each other massively, and two complex elements such as the brain and the gut also appear to interact. It has become increasingly clear that brain function is strictly linked to the microbiome residing in the gut. So much so that now the concept of gut-brain axis is considered a well-established staple.
The gut hosts around 98% of human microbes, with several million bacteria, but also fungi and other organisms, whose role is hardly related only to digestive functions. In fact, the gut microbiome is involved in metabolism, immunity regulation, aging, inflammation and oxidative stress as well. Gut-brain axis interactions occur in both health and disease conditions. Numerous evidence indicates that the gut microbiome plays a role in the pathophysiology of both neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, major depression, and so on. Although further research is needed, it appears that imbalances in the gut microbiome, in terms of diversity and compositional and functional structure, could affect immunity, or neuroendocrine functions having an impact on the brain. Considering the broadening of evidence hinting towards the relevance of such interactions, it is crucial to elucidate the role of the gut microbiome in brain health. Such understanding could potentially help identify novel targets for disease conditions.
In this Research Topic, we aim to advance the scientific community knowledge of gut-brain interactions in brain health. To do so, we will welcome submissions on the role of the gut microbiome as a whole or of specific components in the regulation of brain function and dysfunction.
Throughout our existence, our organs keep on changing and regenerating with no interruption. This path ensures that development, proper functioning, and aging processes are regulated to avoid damage caused by unhealthy components. As organs work in complex organisms, they cannot function in isolation, but are influencing each other massively, and two complex elements such as the brain and the gut also appear to interact. It has become increasingly clear that brain function is strictly linked to the microbiome residing in the gut. So much so that now the concept of gut-brain axis is considered a well-established staple.
The gut hosts around 98% of human microbes, with several million bacteria, but also fungi and other organisms, whose role is hardly related only to digestive functions. In fact, the gut microbiome is involved in metabolism, immunity regulation, aging, inflammation and oxidative stress as well. Gut-brain axis interactions occur in both health and disease conditions. Numerous evidence indicates that the gut microbiome plays a role in the pathophysiology of both neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric conditions such as Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, major depression, and so on. Although further research is needed, it appears that imbalances in the gut microbiome, in terms of diversity and compositional and functional structure, could affect immunity, or neuroendocrine functions having an impact on the brain. Considering the broadening of evidence hinting towards the relevance of such interactions, it is crucial to elucidate the role of the gut microbiome in brain health. Such understanding could potentially help identify novel targets for disease conditions.
In this Research Topic, we aim to advance the scientific community knowledge of gut-brain interactions in brain health. To do so, we will welcome submissions on the role of the gut microbiome as a whole or of specific components in the regulation of brain function and dysfunction.
