Deconstruct the link between gut microbiota and neurological diseases: application of Mendelian randomization analysis.

BACKGROUND

Recent research on the gut-brain axis has deepened our understanding of the correlation between gut bacteria and the neurological system. The inflammatory response triggered by gut microbiota may be associated with neurodegenerative diseases. Additionally, the impact of gut microbiota on emotional state, known as the "Gut-mood" relationship, could play a role in depression and anxiety disorders.

RESULTS

This review summarizes recent data on the role of gut-brain axis in the pathophysiology of neuropsychiatric and neurological disorders including epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, brain cancer, Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder and stroke. Also, we conducted a Mendelian randomization study on seven neurological disorders (Epilepsy, schizophrenia, Alzheimer's disease, brain cancer, Parkinson's disease, bipolar disorder and stroke). MR-Egger and MR-PRESSO tests confirmed the robustness of analysis against horizontal pleiotropy.

CONCLUSIONS

By comparing the protective and risk factors for neurological disorders found in our research and other researches, we can furtherly determine valuable indicators for disease evolution tracking and potential treatment targets. Future research should explore extensive microbiome genome-wide association study datasets using metagenomics sequencing techniques to deepen our understanding of connections and causality between neurological disorders.