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Does modern research validate the ancient wisdom of gut flora and brain connection? A literature review of gut dysbiosis in neurological and neurosurgical disorders over the last decade

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Abstract

The connection between gastrointestinal microbiota and the brain has been described in ancient medical texts and is now well established by research. It is a bidirectional communication which plays a critical role in regulating not only the gastrointestinal homeostasis but has also been linked to higher emotional and cognitive functions. Recent studies have sought to expand on this concept by providing concrete evidence of the influence of gut microbiome on a wide array of diseases and disorders of the central nervous system. This article reviews the most recent literature published on this subject, over the previous decade and aims to establish the role of a healthy gut microbiome and probiotics as an effective adjunct in health and management of diseases of the nervous system. A literature search on PubMed database was conducted using keywords including “gut brain-axis,” “gut dysbiosis,” “neuropsychiatric disorders,” “neurodegenerative disorders,” “probiotic,” and “traumatic brain injury.” The search was performed without any publication date restrictions. Both animal and human studies evaluating the role of gut dysbiosis on various neurological and neurosurgical diseases, published in peer-reviewed journals, were reviewed. Current studies do not provide conclusive evidence of a direct origin of CNS disorders from gut dysbiosis, but a possible modulatory role of gut microbiota in certain neurological disorders has been implicated. An understanding of this connection can aid in finding novel therapeutic strategies for the management of neurological disorders associated with memory dysfunctions and brain and spinal cord injuries.

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  1. Department of Neurosurgery, Sri Aurobindo Institute of Medical Sciences, Indore, India

    Pranati Sharma

  2. Department of Surgical Gastroenterology, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Rishikesh, Uttarakhand, 249203, India

    Pranati Sharma & Abhishek Agrawal

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Sharma P conceptualized the idea and Agrawal A helped with further development of the concept. Sharma P took the lead in writing the manuscript and Agrawal A aided in data collection. All authors provided critical feedback and helped shape the research, analysis, and manuscript.

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Key Message: Gut dysbiosis is linked to neuro-psychiatric, neuro-degenerative diseases, and neurosurgical disorders. Gut microbiome may play a neuroprotective role in traumatic brain and spine injuries. Further studies mandated to validate inclusion of probiotics in treatment regimens of these disorders.

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Sharma, P., Agrawal, A. Does modern research validate the ancient wisdom of gut flora and brain connection? A literature review of gut dysbiosis in neurological and neurosurgical disorders over the last decade. Neurosurg Rev 45, 27–48 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10143-021-01516-2

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