The Gut Microbiome and Neurological Diseases Flashcards
what is the gut brain axis
- contains the vagus nerve
- produces chemical signals/neurotransmitters
- plays a role in stress response
gut-brain axis - vagus nerve
- main nerves of the parasympathetic nervous system
- controls involuntary body functions such as digestion, heart rate, and immune response
gut-brain axis: neurotransmitters
- serotonin
- gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA)
- dopamine
neurotransmitters - serotonin
- produced in the gut by enterochromaffin cells
- influenced by gut bacteria
- regulates mood, anxiety, and sleep
neurotransmitters - GABA
- main inhibitory neurotransmitter
- Bacteroides and Lactobacillus both produce GABA
neurotransmitters - dopamine
- reward and motivation
- protection against neurological diseases
neurotransmitters - short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs)
- produced when bacteria ferment undigested food
- regulate the epithelial layer
modulation of immune system
- metabolite production
- immune cell regulation
- dysbiosis
modulation of immune system - metabolite production
- SCFAs - propionate
- B-vitamin production
modulation of immune system - immune cell regulation
- gut microbiome helps develop and mature the immune system
- tolerance to antigens
modulation of immune system - dysbiosis
- condition where microbiome balance is disrupted
- correlated with diarrhea, food sensitives, fatigue, depression
what may cause dysbiosis
- diet
- lifestyle
- stress
- aging
- diseases
dysbiosis - diet
low fiber and highly processed foods
dysbiosis - lifestyle
amount of exercise, sleep, diet
dysbiosis - stress
chronic stress impacts microbe composition
dysbiosis - aging
- microbiome change over time creates less diversity
neurological diseases correlated to microbiome
- Alzheimer’s disease
- Parkinson’s disease
- multiple sclerosis
- autism spectrum disorders
- stroke and brain injury
Alzheimer’s Disease
- chronic irreversible brain disorder
- progressive degradation of brain cells
- most common type of dementia among the elderly
Alzheimer’s Disease - effect of progressive degradation of brain cells
- memory impairments
- cognitive decline
Alzheimer’s Disease - what potential links are present
- between gut microbiota dysbiosis and systemic inflammation
- contributing factor in neurodegeneration in patients with AD
Parkinson’s Disease
- progressive and multicentric neurodegenerative disease
- abnormal gastrointestinal functioning can influence PD
Parkinson’s Disease - how is it progressive
- age is a huge risk factor
- involves death of dopamine neurons
Parkinson’s Disease - what are clinical symptoms
- muscular rigidity
- resting tremor
- postural instability
multiple sclerosis
- chronic neurological disease of the central nervous system (CNS)
- development of inflammatory focal demyelinated plaques in the CNS
- a healthy gut microbiome can potentially alleviate inflammatory symptoms and help with immunomodulation
autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
- complex range of neurodevelopment symptoms
- more than 40% of individuals with ASD experience gastrointestinal dysfunction
autism spectrum disorder - environmental factors
- malnutrition
- viruses
- developmental errors in pregnancy
autism spectrum disorder - what gastrointestinal dysfunction may occur
- abdominal cramps
- diarrhea
- vomiting
stroke and brain injury
blood supply to part of the brain is blocked of reduced
stroke and brain injury - development of stroke through risk factors
- atherosclerosis = plaque buildup in artery walls
- diabetes
- arterial hypertension
stroke and brain injury - atherosclerosis and microbiome composition
- immune response
- obesity
