The claim that our gut microbiome can affect brain function seemed audacious some 15 years ago. It was not an intuitive link to make; neither was there sufficient evidence to prove so. A lot has changed since, as increasingly, high-quality research is showing remarkable links between gut health and its role in neurological disorders such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s Disease (PD), depression, schizophrenia, and other conditions. At the centre of this discovery is the evidence of a close bidirectional link between the brain and gut, known as the gut-brain axis (GBA). The gut is home to a large number of microorganisms known as the gut microbiome, whose composition can vary or change due to diet, medication or disease. Abnormal proteins or pathogens can be transmitted to the brain through the GBA, if the microbiome composition becomes unbalanced or unhealthy. A recent literature review of the microbiome–gut-brain axis in PD revealed that “gut disorders, gut interventions and dietary factors have been linked to PD development and progression, and have shown to influence the response to PD medication”. A similar observation has also been made on patients with Alzheimer’s Disease. These findings present exciting possibilities for treating brain diseases, which may include changing the gut microbiome through dietary factors or using Traditional Chinese Medicine methods. Although the mechanisms behind these are not yet fully understood, making small changes to your diet may lead to a healthier future.
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