GUT HEALTH AND ITS IMPACT ON MENTAL HEALTH: EXPLORING THE GUT-BRAIN AXIS
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Abstract
Emerging research reveals a profound connection between gut health and mental well-being, centered around the gut-brain axis—a bidirectional communication system between the gastrointestinal tract and the central nervous system. The gut microbiome, composed of trillions of microorganisms, influences neurodevelopment, stress response, mood, and cognition through mechanisms involving neurotransmitters, immune modulation, and the vagus nerve. This review examines the evidence linking gut dysbiosis to psychiatric disorders such as depression, anxiety, and autism spectrum disorder, and evaluates potential therapeutic approaches including probiotics, prebiotics, dietary interventions, and fecal microbiota transplantation. Understanding the gut-brain connection may revolutionize mental health treatment by offering integrative, microbiome-targeted therapies.
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