Recognizing Depression from the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis

• Main Authors: Shan Liang, Xiaoli Wu, Xu Hu, Tao Wang, Feng Jin
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: MDPI AG 2018-05-01
• Series: International Journal of Molecular Sciences
• Subjects: major depressive disorder; brain–gut axis; microbiota–gut–brain axis; gut microbiota; psychobiotics
• Online Access: http://www.mdpi.com/1422-0067/19/6/1592

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.