Lisa M Stephenson
Canisius College, USA
Title: The gut-brain axis: The microbiome’s role in brain disorders
Biography
Biography: Lisa M Stephenson
Abstract
The gut–brain axis refers to the biochemical signaling taking place between the gastrointestinal tract (GIT) and the nervous
system, oft en involving the intestinal microbiota (the microbiome), which have been shown to play an important role in healthy
brain function. Antibiotics, antimicrobial cleaning agents, trauma and carcinogenic compounds in our environment, to name a few,
have contributed to the destruction of the mircrobiome and host immunity. In brain disorders such as autism, the environmental
on slaught has eroded the immature gastrointestinal tract and allowed pathogenic organisms like viruses, bacteria, and fungus to
enter the bloodstream, penetrate the blood-brain-barrier (BBB) and eff ectively force a protective neuro-immune shutdown of blood
fl ow to key parts of the brain. Research now shows that disturbances in the microbiome, resulting in gut permeability, is at the
root of rheumatoid arthritis, allergies, asthma, eczema, Crohn’s/colitis, diabetes, cancer and many other chronic conditions. Th is
breakdown in the GIT and the consequential disruption of the BBB is the underlying biological process behind brain disorders such
as autism, ADHD, schizophrenia, Alzheimer’s, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome/Chronic Fatigue Immune Defi ciency Syndrome (CFS/
CFIDS), anxiety, depression, and more.