Treating the gut microbiota may be the key to healing neurological diseases
Scientific studies have found that therapies aimed at regenerating the gut microbiota can cause brain changes that generate positive effects in the treatment of various neurological disorders.
Recently, there has been a proliferation of scientific studies in humans on the association between the gut microbiota and neurological diseases such as Alzheimer's, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, neuromyelitis optica, in which characteristic alterations have been found in the gut microbiota of patients.
A recent scientific experiment was conducted using a mouse model of social deficit disorders similar to those observed in children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Researchers found that therapies involving the introduction of bacteria into the gut microbiota of these rodents modulated their brain activity. These modifications resulted in significant and positive changes in the social behavior of these mice. Studies in humans are expected to follow to verify similar responses to these therapies.
The results of these studies provide a new and hopeful strategy in the prevention and treatment of these neurological diseases that currently affect a high percentage of humanity.
References
Buffington SA et al. Dissecting the contribution of host genetics and the microbiome in complex behaviors Cell
2021 Apr 1;184(7):1740-1756.e16. doi: 10.1016/j.cell.2021.02.009. Epub 2021 Mar 10.
Castillo-Álvarez F ,Marzo-Sola ME Role of the gut microbiota in the development of various neurological diseases. Neurology. (2019). DOI: 10.1016/j.nrl.2019.03.017