Optimal - The Blog
April 22, 2025
The gut is home to a vast community of microbes that influence nearly every aspect of health, including aging, brain function, and disease risk.
This communication between the gut and the brain is known as the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA), and it involves immune signals, hormones, and nerve pathways.
A balanced gut microbiome supports the production of essential vitamins and neurotransmitters, such as serotonin and dopamine, and helps regulate digestion, immunity, and mental health. Disruptions in the microbiome, called dysbiosis, are linked to conditions such as anxiety, depression, Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and ALS.
Microglia, the brain’s main immune cells, are especially sensitive to changes in gut microbes. Healthy gut bacteria help regulate microglial function through compounds like short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs).
These microbes and their byproducts support brain protection, reduce inflammation, and help maintain both the gut and brain barriers.
Diets low in fiber or disrupted by aging and sleep loss can weaken these barriers.
Animal studies suggest that prebiotics, probiotics, and fecal microbiota transplant (FMT) may help improve gut health and protect the brain, although further human research is needed.
Loh, Jian Sheng et al. “Microbiota-gut-brain axis and its therapeutic applications in neurodegenerative diseases.” Signal transduction and targeted therapy vol. 9,1 37. 16 Feb. 2024, doi:10.1038/s41392-024-01743-1 This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
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