About this Research Topic
Frontiers in Pharmacology is delighted to present the ‘Reviews in’ series of article collections, on the Microbiota Gut-Brain Axis, Therapeutic Insights for Neurodegenerative Diseases.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, represent a major healthcare challenge due to their significant socioeconomic impact worldwide. There is mounting evidence for the involvement of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in the pathogenesis and progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in modulating the GBA, making this a new therapeutic target to improve gut health and brain function.
Psychobiotics, live biotherapeutic agents that modulate gut microbiota and indirectly affect brain function, are under active investigation as potential direct and/or adjuvant therapies for several brain disorders. This proposal aims to explore the role of the GBA and psychobiotics and their potential therapeutic applications for brain disorders.
The proposed study will take a comprehensive approach to review the literature regarding the GBA and psychobiotics/probiotics. Specifically, it will examine recent research studies investigating the interaction between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, potential mechanisms for this interaction, and the evidence supporting the role of the microbiota in brain disorders. Additionally, we will review ongoing preclinical and clinical studies examining the efficacy of psychobiotics/probiotics for brain disorders and evaluate future directions and challenges for the use of psychobiotics/probiotics as a component of therapeutic strategies for brain diseases.
We welcome reviews that cover but are not limited to, the following themes:
1. Overview of the Gut-Brain Axis and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Understanding the key elements of the GBA, the gut microbiota's role, and how neurological diseases relate to changes in the GBA, alongside current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis, progression and GBA-targeted treatments of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
2. An in-depth analysis of how alterations in the gut microbiota and possible dysbiosis can affect the GBA in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and how these changes can impact various physiological processes and their ultimate effect on the brain.
3. Probiotics targeting the GBA: An overview of the use of probiotics as a strategy to modulate the GBA in AD and PD via the gut microbiota, including the potential mechanisms of action, and the ability of probiotics to affect pathological pathways in neurodegenerative diseases.
4. Psychobiotics/Probiotics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Analyzing the evidence to support the use of psychobiotics/probiotics in neurodegenerative diseases, including study design, methodologies, clinical findings, and potential interaction with current and future treatments.
Neurodegenerative diseases, such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease, represent a major healthcare challenge due to their significant socioeconomic impact worldwide. There is mounting evidence for the involvement of the gut-brain axis (GBA) in the pathogenesis and progression of these neurodegenerative diseases. The gut microbiota plays a critical role in modulating the GBA, making this a new therapeutic target to improve gut health and brain function.
Psychobiotics, live biotherapeutic agents that modulate gut microbiota and indirectly affect brain function, are under active investigation as potential direct and/or adjuvant therapies for several brain disorders. This proposal aims to explore the role of the GBA and psychobiotics and their potential therapeutic applications for brain disorders.
The proposed study will take a comprehensive approach to review the literature regarding the GBA and psychobiotics/probiotics. Specifically, it will examine recent research studies investigating the interaction between the gut microbiota and the central nervous system, potential mechanisms for this interaction, and the evidence supporting the role of the microbiota in brain disorders. Additionally, we will review ongoing preclinical and clinical studies examining the efficacy of psychobiotics/probiotics for brain disorders and evaluate future directions and challenges for the use of psychobiotics/probiotics as a component of therapeutic strategies for brain diseases.
We welcome reviews that cover but are not limited to, the following themes:
1. Overview of the Gut-Brain Axis and Neurodegenerative Diseases: Understanding the key elements of the GBA, the gut microbiota's role, and how neurological diseases relate to changes in the GBA, alongside current knowledge regarding the pathogenesis, progression and GBA-targeted treatments of Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease.
2. An in-depth analysis of how alterations in the gut microbiota and possible dysbiosis can affect the GBA in Alzheimer's and Parkinson's disease and how these changes can impact various physiological processes and their ultimate effect on the brain.
3. Probiotics targeting the GBA: An overview of the use of probiotics as a strategy to modulate the GBA in AD and PD via the gut microbiota, including the potential mechanisms of action, and the ability of probiotics to affect pathological pathways in neurodegenerative diseases.
4. Psychobiotics/Probiotics as a Therapeutic Strategy for Neurodegenerative Diseases: Analyzing the evidence to support the use of psychobiotics/probiotics in neurodegenerative diseases, including study design, methodologies, clinical findings, and potential interaction with current and future treatments.
Keywords: #CollectionSeries, GBA, probiotics, Gut microbiota, neurodegenerative diseases, Psychobiotics
Important Note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.
