London Health Science Centre-Victoria Hospital, Department of Psychiatry, B8-102, London, ON N6A 5W9, Canada.
Rm. EC1443 School of Physical Therapy, 1201 Western Rd., London, ON N6G 1H1, Canada.
Int J Mol Sci. 2022 Jun 14;23(12):6643. doi: 10.3390/ijms23126643.
Emerging adulthood (ages 18-25) is a critical period for neurobiological development and the maturation of the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis. Recent findings also suggest that a natural perturbation of the gut microbiota (GM), combined with other factors, may create a unique vulnerability during this period of life. The GM of emerging adults is thought to be simpler, less diverse, and more unstable than either younger or older people. We postulate that this plasticity in the GM suggests a role in the rising mental health issues seen in westernized societies today via the gut-brain-microbiota axis. Studies have paid particular attention to the diversity of the microbiota, the specific function and abundance of bacteria, and the production of metabolites. In this narrative review, we focus specifically on diet, physical activity/exercise, substance use, and sleep in the context of the emerging adult. We propose that this is a crucial period for establishing a stable and more resilient microbiome for optimal health into adulthood. Recommendations will be made about future research into possible behavioral adjustments that may be beneficial to endorse during this critical period to reduce the probability of a "dysbiotic" GM and the emergence and severity of mental health concerns.
新兴成年期（18-25 岁）是神经生物学发育和下丘脑-垂体-肾上腺轴成熟的关键时期。最近的研究结果还表明，肠道微生物群（GM）的自然干扰，加上其他因素，可能在这个生命阶段造成独特的脆弱性。新兴成年人的 GM 被认为比年轻人或老年人更简单、多样性更少、更不稳定。我们推测，GM 的这种可塑性表明它通过肠道-大脑-微生物群轴在当今西方化社会中日益严重的心理健康问题中发挥了作用。研究特别关注微生物群的多样性、细菌的特定功能和丰度以及代谢产物的产生。在这篇叙述性综述中，我们专门关注新兴成年人的饮食、体育活动/运动、物质使用和睡眠。我们提出，这是建立一个稳定和更具弹性的微生物组以实现成年后最佳健康的关键时期。我们将提出有关未来研究的建议，探讨在这一关键时期可能有助于促进的行为调整，以减少“失调”GM 的出现以及心理健康问题的出现和严重程度。
