Akademik Veri Yönetim Sistemi
HEALTH & SCIENCE 2025-II, HATİCE ESRA DURAN, Editör, EFE AKADEMİ, İstanbul, ss.329-338, 2025
The specialized communication network between the gastrointestinal (GI) tract and central nervous system (CNS) is termed the "gut-brain axis." Bidirectional interaction occurs between these systems (Socała et al., 2021). The brain regulates GI motility, hormone secretion, and immune responses, directly influencing gut microbiota composition and functionality. The microbiota, in turn, modulates development of both the enteric nervous system and CNS. Although mechanisms governing remote brain functions remain partially elucidated, neuronal, immune, and endocrine pathways mediate this communication. This axis is central to the pathophysiology of functional GI disorders like irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and actively contributes to other pathologies including inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) (Lee et al., 2023). The CNS and GI tract function as sensory organs that detect, integrate, and respond to internal/external environmental signals. Immune cells within these organs continuously monitor stimuli, generating responses reflective of the organism's physiological state (Agirman, Yu & Hsiao, 2021). Gut microbiota critically maintain immune, metabolic, and tissue homeostasis in the GI tract and distal organs (including the CNS). Microbial dysbiosis correlates with "intestinal hyperpermeability"—characterized by compromised epithelial/vascular barrier integrity—observed in inflammatory bowel pathologies and identified as a potential risk factor for metabolic, inflammatory, and neurodegenerative diseases (Carloni et al., 2023). Via the microbiota-gut-brain axis, microbiota regulate neurodevelopment through immune, neuronal, and endocrine/systemic pathways (Wang, Yang & Liu, 2023). Psychological stress and inflammation represent shared pathophysiological components in microbiota-associated diseases. Stress contributes to depression, schizophrenia, autism spectrum disorder (ASD), epilepsy, and migraines, while inflammation is implicated in similar disorders. These conditions frequently exhibit comorbidity: Depression-migraine comorbidity is prevalent, and migraine patients show increased IBS incidence (Socała et al., 2021). Unhealthy dietary patterns exacerbate this comorbidity. Axis-mediated communication between GI microorganisms and the brain has emerged as a therapeutic target for brain health regulation. Diet’s potential to modulate microbiota-brain interactions has accelerated research on nutritional interventions (Schneider et al., 2024). ---HEALTH & SCIENCE 2025-II--- 330 Interest in microbiota-brain crosstalk has intensified studies on probiotics, prebiotics, and postbiotics for preventing/treating depressive disorders. While preliminary data are promising, advanced research is needed to develop microbiota-focused holistic dietary strategies and evidence-based clinical guidelines.