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Recognizing Depression from the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis

2018; Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; Volume: 19; Issue: 6 Linguagem: Inglês

10.3390/ijms19061592

1661-6596

Shan Liang, Xiaoli Wu, Xu Hu, Tao Wang, Feng Jin,

Neuroendocrine regulation and behavior

Major depression is one of the leading causes of disability, morbidity, and mortality worldwide. The brain–gut axis functions are disturbed, revealed by a dysfunction of the brain, immune system, endocrine system, and gut. Traditional depression treatments all target the brain, with different drugs and/or psychotherapy. Unfortunately, most of the patients have never received any treatment. Studies indicate that gut microbiota could be a direct cause for the disorder. Abnormal microbiota and the microbiota–gut–brain dysfunction may cause mental disorders, while correcting these disturbance could alleviate depression. Nowadays, the gut microbiota modulation has become a hot topic in treatment research of mental disorders. Depression is closely related with the health condition of the brain–gut axis, and maintaining/restoring the normal condition of gut microbiota helps in the prevention/therapy of mental disorders.