Gut-to-brain signaling: New frontiers in treating brain disorders

Abstract

The microbiota.gut.brain axis is essential for maintaining body balance. This review evaluates how altering this connection can treat various central nervous system disorders. First, we examine how the gut and brain communicate through neural pathways, immune responses, and chemical signals. We focus particularly on molecules produced by gut bacteria, such as short-chain fatty acids. These molecules are key regulators that maintain the blood.brain barrier and guide the development of microglia, the brain’s primary immune cells. This review primarily discusses the bidirectional communication network between the gut and the brain via neural, immune, and chemical signals. This highlights the crucial role of gut bacterial metabolites in stabilizing the blood.brain barrier and guiding the development of brain immune cells. Additionally, we address significant challenges in this field, including establishing causal relationships, accounting for individual patient differences, and altering drug metabolism patterns. Additionally, we suggest that by targeting the gut outside the brain, we can move toward a new era of early, precise, and personalized holistic treatment for brain diseases.