Microbiome: A Potential Component in the Origin of Mental Disorders

Abstract

It is not surprising to find microbiome abnormalities present in psychiatric disorders such as depressive disorders, bipolar disorders, etc. Evolutionary pressure may provide an existential advantage to the host eukaryotic cells in that it survives in an extracellular environment containing non-self cells (e.g., bacteria). This phenomenon is both positive and negative, as with other intercellular processes. In this specific case, the phenomenal amount of information gained from combined bacterial genome could enhance communication between self and non-self cells. This can be coupled to both pathological processes and healthy ones.In this review, we chose to examine potential associated disorders that may be coupled to the microbiome, from the perspective of their bidirectional communication with eukaryotic cells in the gut. Cognition, being the newest neural networking functionality to evolve, consumes a good amount of organismic energy, 30% of which arises from the gut flora. Furthermore, the mammalian gut is highly innervated and has a highly developed immune component, reflecting brain complexity.The brain-gut axis uses similar molecular messengers as the brain, which affects bacterial processes as well. Thus, any modification of normal bacterial processes may manifest itself in altered behavior/cognition, originating from the gut. The origin of some disorders associated with this bidirectional communication may be harnessed to restore normal functioning.

A Copula Type-Model for Examining the Role of Microbiome as a Potential Tool in Diagnosis

“…e advances in biotechnology allow researchers to measure dynamic behaviors of the microbiota at a large scale (see [2]). Recent studies have shown that di erences in the microbiome composition are correlated with an increasing number of conditions ranging from cardiovascular diseases, autoimmune diseases, metabolic diseases, or neurological disorders and mental health aspects [3][4][5][6][7]. Another interesting reference linking a wellestablished cohort in the biomedical domain (the Framingham Study) with changes in the microbiome for multiple relevant health parameters such as cardiovascular risk, metabolic syndrome, and diabetes is Walker et al [8].…”

Urinary carboxylic acids (UCAs) in subjects with autism spectrum disorder and their association with bacterial overgrowth

“…Both the outside world and the internal humanenvironment immunologically interface in the gastrointestinal tract (GIT). A bidirectional interaction between brain and gut enables humans to finely modulate not only metabolism and bio-energetics but also a huge number of foreign substances entering the organism via the GIT, raising formidable concerns about immunity, tolerance, the same concept of a biological "self" and cognition awareness [1][2][3][4]. Along with being responsible for digesting and absorbing nutrients, GIT is also exposed to dietary antigens, bacterial products, and viable microorganisms.…”