The Impact of the Gut Microbiome on Mental Health: Exploring Psychobiotics and the Microbiota–Gut–Brain Axis

الملخص

The gut microbiome is increasingly recognized as a key player in mental well-being via the gut–brain–microbiota axis, a bidirectional interaction network that connects gastrointestinal microbiota function to the brain. Dysregulation of this axis has been linked to abnormal emotional regulation, cognitive impairment, and neuropsychiatric diseases. Indeed, there is an increasing body of evidence indicating that certain gut bacteria, referred to as psych biotics, dietary regimens as well as microbial-derived metabolites-such as short-chain fatty acidsdirectly impact neuroinflammatory and neurotransmitter pathways and stress response systems. Moreover, new studies highlight the roles of the gut virome and mycobiome, adding to our understanding of intricate relationships between various microbial populations and the CNS. The management and modulation of the gut microbiome using probiotics, prebiotics, and dietary interventions are all promising complementary strategies for psychopathologies such as depression and anxiety. Looking to the future, further exploration into personalized microbial therapy and the functional contribution of non-bacterial microbiome constituents may transform the face of mental healthcare towards new, precision medicine-based interventions for both treatment and prevention.