Journal of controlled release : official journal of the Controlled Release Society · 2026 Aug 20
Liu D, Guo B, Qin F, Cao Y, Zhong J, Xie Z
Oral drug delivery is preferred for patient compliance, but it's challenging for biologics and sensitive therapeutics due to the harsh gastrointestinal environment. Engineered oral hydrogels, enhanced through chemical modifications, offer superior entrapment efficiency and controlled release compared to traditional forms like capsules. Through innovative mechanisms, including stimuli-responsiveness, active adhesion, and microenvironmental modulation, oral hydrogels overcome key limitations associated with traditional oral formulations. These systems can achieve prolonged retention and site-spe…
Pharmacological research · 2026 Aug 20
Comella F, Gualtieri C, Travelli C, Coretti L, Filibian M, Opallo N
The acute inflammatory phase of dextran sodium sulfate (DSS)-induced colitis has been extensively characterized, often neglecting the long-term systemic consequences that emerge during recovery. Here, we mapped the recovery landscape following acute DSS-induced colitis over a 28-day period, enabling to differentiate transient inflammation from enduring pathophysiological alterations both at peripheral and central level. Colonic recovery showed a transition to an altered steady state, characterized by an increased immune reactivity and vulnerability, rather than a return to baseline. While over…
Cell reports. Medicine · 2026 Aug 20
Wang Y, Xie S, Li C, Huang R, Zheng Z, Chen S
Insomnia is associated with gut microbial dysbiosis, but the specific microbial metabolites mediating gut-brain communication remain elusive. Here, we integrate metagenomic sequencing from 171 individuals (primary insomnia, post-COVID insomnia, and controls) with functional pathway analysis and preclinical validation. We identify Faecalibacterium prausnitzii depletion and reduced L-arginine biosynthesis as consistent features in both insomnia subtypes, accompanied by elevated cortisol levels. Genomic and in vitro analyses confirm that F. prausnitzii is a key microbial contributor to L-arginine…
Ecotoxicology and environmental safety · 2026 Aug 20
Guo X, Li Y, Lin K, Wu Z, Li H, Qin Y
Bisphenol S (BPS), broadly used in consumer products and food packaging, raises mounting toxicological concerns. Puerarin (PUE), a neuroprotective antioxidant from pueraria lobata, is largely uncharacterized for its efficacy in mitigating BPS-triggered neurotoxicity. This study investigates how BPS impairs the intestinal mucosal barrier, induces inflammation and gut dysbiosis to elicit neurotoxicity, and evaluates the protective effects of PUE on these gut-mediated damages. Thirty-six male mice were randomly divided into four groups (control, BPS (50 mg/kg bw), BPS + PUE(150 mg/kg bw). The Ope…
Gut microbes · 2026 Dec 31
Tunali V, Arslan NÇ, Derviş Haki̇m G, Gündoğdu A, Ermi̇ş BH, Hora M
Dietary therapy is central to irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) management, yet the long-term durability of the low-FODMAP diet (LFD), and of microbiome-guided personalization, remains unclear. We assessed the long-term clinical and gut-microbiome effects of a microbiome-guided personalized diet (PD) compared with a standard LFD in adults meeting Rome IV criteria for IBS. In this multicenter, open-label randomized controlled trial with blinded outcome assessment, participants who completed a 6-week dietary intervention (PD or LFD) were followed at 6 and 12 months without further dietary intervent…
Frontiers in immunology · 2026
Xia J, Gao X, Huang S
Intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) induces profound secondary brain injury, largely driven by dysregulated neuroinflammation, yet effective immunomodulatory therapies remain limited. Regulatory T (Treg) cells, a specialized subset of CD4+ T cells essential for immune tolerance and tissue repair, have emerged as critical modulators of post-ICH inflammation and recovery. Following ICH, Treg responses undergo dynamic temporal and spatial changes in the peripheral immune compartment and injured brain, where they may exert neuroprotective effects through multiple mechanisms, including the production of…
Neural regeneration research · 2026 Aug 20
Pei H, Yao Y, Xu L, Bi J, Fan K, Fang Y
The microbiota.gut.brain axis is essential for maintaining body balance. This review evaluates how altering this connection can treat various central nervous system disorders. First, we examine how the gut and brain communicate through neural pathways, immune responses, and chemical signals. We focus particularly on molecules produced by gut bacteria, such as short-chain fatty acids. These molecules are key regulators that maintain the blood.brain barrier and guide the development of microglia, the brain's primary immune cells. This review primarily discusses the bidirectional communication ne…
Neuropsychiatric disease and treatment · 2026
Wang L, Shang R, Zhang C, Wang S, Xian J
Acupuncture is used for depressive disorders, but the extent to which its effects are mediated by the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) remains uncertain. To determine whether current preclinical and clinical evidence supports gut microbiota as a mediator, amplifier, or biomarker of acupuncture-related antidepressant effects. Eight databases were searched from inception to 6 July 2026 for peer-reviewed studies of acupuncture in depressive disorders or validated depressive-like phenotypes that reported gut microbiota or microbiota-derived metabolite outcomes. Twenty-six independent studies were …
Frontiers in psychiatry · 2026
Yuan J, Zhang J, Yu M, Li L
Anxiety and depressive disorders impose a heavy global burden. Although sleep disturbances have traditionally been regarded as secondary symptoms of these conditions, converging evidence now implicates circadian rhythm disruption as a core pathophysiological mechanism rather than a mere epiphenomenon. This review systematically explores the circadian system and constructs an integrated framework linking disruption to the synergistic dysregulation of multiple pathways and subsequent emotional/sleep abnormalities. We systematically examine five key mechanistic pathways: the SCN-limbic circuit, H…
Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026
Zhou T, Xue G, Zhang Y, Li M, Zhang D, Lin J
Post-COVID syndrome is predominantly characterized by persistent fatigue that cannot be attributed to other underlying diseases or relieved by conventional rest. Such symptoms may last for weeks to months, substantially impairing patients' health status and quality of life. Nevertheless, current understanding of the pathogenesis of post-COVID syndrome remains insufficient, posing major challenges to its effective clinical management. Therefore, this review elaborates comprehensively on the pathogenesis, potential therapeutic targets, and pharmacological interventions for post-COVID syndrome, a…
Current developments in nutrition · 2026 Aug
Liu H, You X, Peng Y, Wei G, Kong W, Huang C
The ubiquity of plastic pollution has rendered dietary microplastic (MP) ingestion unavoidable, introducing an unrecognized yet pervasive threat to human nutritional health. This review systematically synthesizes evidence from rodent and aquatic animal models, in vitro human gut microbiota simulations, and cross-sectional human observational studies to conceptualize the "MP-gut microbiota-nutrition axis" as a unifying mechanistic framework. Our synthesis delineates 4 interconnected pathways triggered by MP-induced gut dysbiosis: 1) disrupted energy harvest via short-chain fatty acid depletion …
Frontiers in physiology · 2026
Alexiev A, Stagaman K, Kasschau K, Zhang Y, Raber J, Gombart AF
Obesity-associated cognitive decline represents a growing public health concern, yet the mechanisms linking high-fat diet (HFD) to neurological impairment remain incompletely understood. Xanthohumol (XN) and its non-estrogenic derivatives, tetrahydroxanthohumol (TXN) and α,β-dihydro-xanthohumol (DXN), improve metabolic dysfunction and cognitive impairment associated with diet-induced obesity. The mechanisms underlying these cognitive benefits remain poorly defined, but all three compounds improve glucose tolerance, spatial learning and memory in obese C57BL/6J mice. We hypothesized that the gu…
Neurobiology of stress · 2026 Sep
Hassib L, Morraye RA, Silva WA Jr, Guimarães FS, Ferreira FR
Over the past decades, alterations in gut microbiota composition have emerged as a key contributor to the neurobiology of stress-related psychiatric conditions, including Major Depressive Disorder (MDD). Clinical and preclinical evidence consistently demonstrates correlational associations indicating that the gut microbiota not only responds to stress but also modulates the host stress response, thereby influencing behavioral domains relevant to depressive symptomatology. However, relatively few studies have investigated the causal relationship between stress-induced microbiota alterations and…
bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology · 2026 Aug 5
Wang H, Lim JJ, Chi J, Gu H, Cui JY
Akkermansia muciniphila has emerged as a promising next-generation probiotic with beneficial effects on learning and memory, but whether and how it can protect against environmental toxicant-induced cognitive impairment remains unknown. Cadmium (Cd) is a widespread environmental neurotoxicant that disrupts the gut-brain axis and impairs hippocampus-dependent learning and memory, yet effective preventive interventions are lacking. In this study, we discovered that oral supplementation with human fecal microbiome-derived A. muciniphila prevented Cd-induced cognitive impairment in mice throughout…
Journal of stroke and cerebrovascular diseases : the official journal of National Stroke Association · 2026 Aug 19
Liu Z, Zhao X, Yang Z, Zhang L
Ischemic stroke (IS) remains a leading global cause of mortality and disability. Although current reperfusion strategies have advanced, the complex pathological mechanisms underlying IS continue to significantly limit clinical prognosis. Recently, the pivotal role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) in the pathological evolution of IS has garnered widespread attention. This review systematically delineates the multidimensional regulatory roles of the gut microbiota and its metabolites in IS pathogenesis, with a specific focus on immuno-metabolic crosstalk, cellular senescence, and programm…
International immunopharmacology · 2026 Aug 19
Zhang Y, Mo D, Huang Q, Mou X, Dai Q, Zhao W
Diabetes-associated affective disorders are a global health burden tightly linked to the gut microbiota. The depletion of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii (F. prausnitzii) is a shared feature of diabetes and depression, yet its therapeutic potential and mechanisms remain unclear. We first analyzed the microbial composition of populations with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) and major depressive disorder (MDD) using the GMrepo database to potential probiotic candidates. We then investigated whether supplementation with this probiotic could ameliorate anxiety- and depression-like behaviors in a T2DM…
Colloids and surfaces. B, Biointerfaces · 2026 Aug 13
Jia R, Chen Q, Sabur KM, He Z, Chen B, Hu K
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic immune-mediated condition affecting the intestinal tract. Though conventional therapies aim to control symptoms and induce remission, their long-term use is hindered by systemic side effects and inadequate efficacy, highlighting the need for safer and more effective treatments. In this study, we developed luteolin-loaded nanoparticles (Lut-NPs) by encapsulating luteolin within metal-phenolic networks (MPNs) formed through coordination between epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) and Ce3⁺ ions. The resulting Lut-NPs showed excellent biocompatibility, str…
Inflammopharmacology · 2026 Aug 19
Thakur A, Sharma R, Kumari S, Prakash D, Devi A
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a multifactorial and progressive neurodegenerative condition characterized by the interaction of various molecular, cellular and systemic mechanisms that culminate in synaptic dysfunction, neuronal loss and memory decline. Therapeutic success remains limited despite decades of research, and accumulating evidence suggests that an exclusive focus on single-pathology mechanisms may have contributed to the limited efficacy of many therapeutic strategies. The interplay of pathogenic mechanisms seems to contribute to the disorder in a dynamic and continuous manner, much l…
mSystems · 2026 Aug 19
Hutchinson NT, Maino-Vieytes CA, Valls C, Allen J, Rund LA, Johnson RW
Physical inactivity contributes substantially to global disease burden, yet the physiological mechanisms underlying exercise motivation remain poorly understood. The gut-brain axis presents a potentially modifiable target for behavioral intervention. Emerging evidence demonstrates that the gut microbiota influences motivated behaviors, but the specific metabolic functions and physiological mechanisms mediating these effects remain poorly defined. Here, we demonstrate that the predicted fermentation capacity of the gut microbiota influences voluntary wheel running (VWR) acquisition and neuroend…
ACS pharmacology & translational science · 2026 Aug 14
Peng W, Wei C, Liu J, Pi J, Ding C, Guo H
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is the most common neurodegenerative disease with a rapid growth of patients worldwide in the aging era. Therefore, there is an urgent need to develop novel drugs for AD. Niacin and α-lipoic acid have been reported to exhibit therapeutic potential in AD through distinct biological activities, including GPR109A/HCAR2 agonism and antioxidant effects, respectively. N2L, a hybrid molecule derived from α-lipoic acid and niacin and a known GPR109A/HCAR2 agonist, has previously been reported to possess lipid-regulating, antiatherosclerotic, and ferroptosis-inhibitory properti…
Pharmacological research · 2026 Aug 13
Qiao X, Han D, Bai Y, Wang R, Xue X, Wang Z
The microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) is progressively associated with the pathophysiology of depression. This analysis consolidates existing preclinical findings on MGBA mechanisms associated with depression and assesses natural-product therapies through three key metabolite-related pathways: bile acid-responsive signaling via the farnesoid X receptor, G protein-coupled bile acid receptor 1, vitamin D receptor, and pregnane X receptor; metabolites from the kynurenine pathway and their connection to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor signaling; and microbial indole-aryl hydrocarbon receptor signalin…
The journal of nutrition, health & aging · 2026 Aug 13
Lee Y, Colombage RL, Hall CV, Lamport DJ, Williams CM, Hepsomali P
To examine the feasibility and effects of consuming an additional 10 g/day of prebiotic fibre blend in a bread roll on cognitive, mood, gastrointestinal outcomes, and peripheral biomarkers in older adults without dementia and with low habitual dietary fibre intake. A single-centre, randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled parallel groups design (Registration at clinicaltrials.gov; NCT06796712). Fifty-three community-dwelling adults aged 60-80 years without dementia and with low habitual dietary fibre intake. Participants were assigned to either a treatment (fibre-enriched white bread roll)…
British journal of pharmacology · 2026 Aug 13
D'Antongiovanni V, Pierucci C, Segnani C, Ippolito C, Di Salvo C, Lucarini E
Patients with Parkinson's disease (PD) show intestinal epithelial barrier (IEB) alterations, enteric gliosis and inflammation that could contribute to gastrointestinal symptoms. Moreover, changes in leucine rich-repeat kinase 2 (LRRK2) expression/activity have been associated with PD development and related intestinal inflammation. However, the molecular determinants linking LRRK2, enteric gliosis and IEB impairment remain unclear. Therefore, we investigated the role of LRRK2 in IEB changes associated with PD, focusing on its role in the interplay between enteric glial cells (EGCs) and intesti…
Nursing research · 2026 Aug 12
Slack J, Vogtmann E, Docherty S, Albrecht TA
Women with breast cancer experience high symptom burden from a psychoneurological symptom cluster consisting of fatigue, anxiety, depression, sleep disturbances, and pain. Interventions to manage this symptom cluster are limited as its etiology is not well understood. One system that has been linked with this symptom cluster in both healthy and other chronically ill populations but has not been explored in breast cancer is the oral microbiome. We examined differences in oral microbiome diversity and composition between women with breast cancer who reported high versus low levels of psychoneuro…
Medicinski glasnik : official publication of the Medical Association of Zenica-Doboj Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina · 2026 Aug 7
Mustika S, Firdaus AF, Simamora AB, Hatinah AN, Shatri H
The gut-brain axis is pivotal in the pathophysiology of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), with anxiety, depression and quality of life. IBS-C (constipation-predominant) and IBS-D (diarrhoea-predominant) are frequently linked with psychological comorbidities. Neither in Indonesia nor globally has research been conducted regarding the relationship between subtypes of IBS and depression and anxiety. This study aimed to identify the relationship between depression and anxiety and subtypes of IBS. From January to December 2023, a cross-sectional study was conducted on 49 IBS patients at Dr Saiful Anw…
Food & function · 2026 Aug 13
Song D, Lee YR, Yu SM, An JH
This study investigated whether crude proline (CP), a metabolite fraction derived from heat-killed Enterococcus faecium (E. faecium) FBL1 isolated from makgeolli, is associated with the modulation of microbiota-host interactions within the microbiota-gut-brain axis and attenuation of PD-related pathology. CP was purified using fast protein liquid chromatography and liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. Its biological effects were evaluated in SH-SY5Y and Caco-2 cell models and in an MPTP-induced mouse model of PD, followed by behavioral, microbiota, and molecular analyses. CP treatment sign…
MicrobiologyOpen · 2026 Aug
Emon M, Rahaman MM, Sarder D, Shadin M, Neela SA, Wangchuk P
Gut-brain axis (GBA) has emerged as a bidirectional communication network linking the gut microbiota with central nervous system function and contributing to the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD) and Parkinson's disease (PD). This study aimed to critically evaluate the current evidence on how phytochemicals modulate gut microbiota and GBA signaling to influence the progression of AD and PD. A systematic literature search was conducted using major scientific databases, and preclinical studies investigating microbiota-mediated mechanisms of phytochemicals were synthesized according to pre…
Frontiers in aging neuroscience · 2026
Panaitescu PŞ, Bâldea I, Toma VA, Nuţu AM, Moldoveanu CA, Sevastre-Berghian A
Parkinson's Disease (PD) involves the loss of dopaminergic neurons and the formation of Lewy bodies consisting of alpha-synuclein (αSin) aggregates. Trimethylamine N-oxide (TMAO), a gut microbiota metabolite, has emerged as a molecule of interest due to pro-inflammatory, pro-oxidative, and neurodegenerative effects. We aim to assess whether lower doses of TMAO (40 mg/kg bw, gavage, once daily, day 0-42), as those used in atherosclerosis experimental models, can exacerbate oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, motor dysfunction, and neurodegeneration in a semi-acute 1-methyl-4-phenyl-1,2,3,6-tet…
Frontiers in microbiomes · 2026
Chen J, Li A, Wu W, Xu W, Zhao T, Starkweather AR
Heterogeneity in symptom presentation and treatment response in irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) remains poorly understood. This analysis from a randomized controlled trial (NCT03332537) aims to identify symptom-trajectory phenotypes and determine whether gut microbiota composition and function distinguish these phenotypes and predict multidimensional responses to IBS pain self-management interventions. Participants with longitudinal data (n = 62) were analyzed using longitudinal k-means clustering based on trajectories of measures in IBS quality of life (QOL), Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), and ne…
Frontiers in neurology · 2026
Vöhringer K, Müller MS, Yildiz CB, Zimmer-Bensch G
DNA methyltransferase 1 (DNMT1) has classically been viewed as the canonical maintenance methyltransferase, yet accumulating evidence positions it as a multifaceted hub that integrates environmental, hormonal, and metabolic signals with chromatin regulation in the developing and adult brain. This review highlights DNMT1 as an environmentally responsive epigenetic sensor across the lifespan. We examine how psychosocial stress, early-life adversity, inflammation, nutritional and microbiome-derived metabolites, and environmental toxicants modulate DNMT1 expression, subcellular localization, and p…
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 Aug 5
Liang J, Mueed A, Basit A, Kulikouskaya V, Hileuskaya K, You L
Liposomes are among the most extensively studied delivery systems owing to their biocompatibility, structural versatility, and ability to improve the stability and bioavailability of bioactive compounds. Meanwhile, edible fungal polysaccharides (EFPs), particularly β-glucans and heteropolysaccharides, have attracted increasing interest because of their antioxidant, immunomodulatory, prebiotic, and health-promoting properties. The integration of EFPs with liposomal systems has emerged as a promising strategy for developing multifunctional nanocarriers with enhanced physicochemical stability and…
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 Aug 4
Fierro-Salgado YT, Reiriz M, Calleja-Conde J, Cintado-Alzate C, Bühler KM, Morales-García JA
Alcohol consumption has been increasingly associated with alterations in the gut microbiota and its metabolic activity; however, evidence regarding microbiota-derived metabolites remains fragmented. This systematic review aimed to synthesize current evidence on the effects of alcohol consumption on gut microbiota-derived metabolites in humans and non-human primates. The review was conducted according to Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines and included studies published between 2012 and 2026. Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, S…
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 Jul 29
Du J, Sun L, Wang S, Chen Y, Long W, Wang B
Vascular cognitive impairment (VCI) is a major form of dementia with a complex pathogenesis. Emerging evidence indicates a strong interaction between intestinal mucosal barrier integrity and neuroinflammation, which has been proposed as a candidate contributor in VCI progression. This review comprehensively reviews the initiation and amplification of neuroinflammation in chronic cerebral ischemia. It highlights how impairment of the intestinal mucosal barrier, gut microbiota dysbiosis, and translocation of microbial metabolites contribute to central neuroinflammation via circulatory and neural…
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 Jul 28
Zhang X, Shen W, Wu Y, Zhang W, Ye Q
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder in which circadian rhythm disruption (CRD) emerges as both a prodromal feature and a potential pathogenic driver. Elucidating the bidirectional interplay between PD and CRD is essential for identifying early biomarkers and developing chronotherapeutic strategies. We narratively synthesized literature published over the past two decades in PubMed, Web of Science, and CNKI, focusing on molecular mechanisms, clinical manifestations, biomarker development, and interventional studies addressing the PD-CRD interface. In the CRD-PD …
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 Jul 24
Procopciuc LM, Hangan AC, Lucaciu RL
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a multifactorial disorder characterized by central obesity, insulin resistance, dyslipidemia, hypertension, and impaired glucose metabolism, significantly increasing the risk of type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Recent evidence highlights the important role of the gut-brain axis in the pathogenesis of MetS through complex interactions between the gut microbiota, immune system, endocrine signaling, and host genetics. This narrative review provides an integrative overview of the mechanisms linking dysbiosis to metabolic dysfunction, with particular emphasis…
International journal of molecular sciences · 2026 Jul 23
Wang Y, Cao Z, Zhang C, Ying Y, Zhu G, Wang J
Parkinson's disease (PD), a debilitating neurodegenerative disorder, is primarily characterized by motor impairments and concurrent gastrointestinal disturbances. Increasing evidence has highlighted the critical role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) in the pathogenesis of PD. This study investigated the neuroprotective potential of sodium hyaluronate (SH) in a mouse model of PD and its underlying mechanisms via the MGBA. In the oral pre-treatment study, three doses (7.5, 15, and 30 mg/kg/day) were evaluated. The results showed that the high dose (SH-H, 30 mg/kg/day) significantly amelio…
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026 Jul 28
Gao J, Li L, Liu Q, Zhang N, Li Y
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by Aβ deposition, tau hyperphosphorylation, and neuroinflammation. No effective drugs can slow disease progression. Polysaccharides from traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) exhibit neuroprotective activities (e.g., antioxidant, anti-inflammatory) with good safety. However, their clinical application is limited by low oral bioavailability, poor blood-brain barrier (BBB) permeability, and a pharmacokinetic-pharmacodynamic paradox. The emerging role of the microbiota-gut-brain axis in AD offers a strategy to overcome this parad…
Molecules (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026 Jul 24
Sun L, Zhu X, Fan C, Wang Y, Chen Q, Zhang L
Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a complex, multifactorial neurodegenerative disorder whose core pathological hallmarks include Aβ aggregation, tau hyperphosphorylation, chronic neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, mitochondrial dysfunction, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Lignans, a class of naturally occurring polyphenolic dimers widely distributed in medicinal plants and diet, exhibit multi-target neuroprotective effects with low toxicity. This review provides a systematic synthesis of the anti-AD pharmacological mechanisms underlying nine structurally distinct lignan subtypes-dibenzocyclooctadien…
Nutrients · 2026 Aug 5
Li S, Pi M, Yang Z, Ma X, Yuan J, Zhou Y
Background: Postpartum depression (PPD) is a prevalent and debilitating disorder, with increasing evidence implicating the gut microbiota-brain axis. However, integrated alterations in gut microbiota and circulating metabolites in PPD remain insufficiently characterized. Methods: Fecal and serum samples were collected from patients with PPD and healthy controls (HC). Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 17-item Hamilton Depression Rating Scale (HAMD-17). Gut microbiota was analyzed by 16S rRNA sequencing, and serum metabolites were profiled using untargeted LC-MS-based metabolomics. Spe…
Nutrients · 2026 Aug 4
Morales-Lima G, Penha MEF, Piristrello BS, da Silva SCM, Negri G, Toro CA
This review examines the structural variety, distribution, and physicochemical properties of chlorogenic acids (CGAs), identifying coffee and green coffee as the leading dietary sources of these compounds. Preclinical studies indicate that plant-derived phenolic compounds exhibit strong antioxidant, anti-inflammatory, neuroprotective, cardioprotective, and antidiabetic effects across various disease models. The biological effectiveness of CGAs is attributed to their modulation of cellular signaling pathways, particularly by activating the erythroid 2-related factor 2 antioxidant defense mechan…
International journal of psychiatry in medicine · 2026 Aug 6
Wu F, Wang N, Yang J
ObjectiveTo examine associations between gastrointestinal and hepatic diseases (GIHD) and long-term depressive symptom trajectories in older adults across diverse cultural and healthcare settings.MethodsLongitudinal data from four aging cohorts were harmonized: CHARLS (China), SHARE (Europe), HRS (United States), and KLOSA (South Korea), comprising 40,161 adults aged ≥60 years with 4-6 follow-up waves. Group-based trajectory modeling (GBTM) identified distinct depressive symptom trajectories. Multinomial logistic regression, adjusted for baseline depressive symptoms and covariates, estimated o…
Journal of neuroimmunology · 2026 Jul 31
Khobragade R, Chaudhary A, Gautam Y, Ali MAM, Patil H, Kaushalye P
Treatment-resistant depression (TRD) represents a major clinical challenge characterised by inadequate response to conventional antidepressant therapies and high relapse rates. Emerging evidence suggests that TRD may extend beyond monoaminergic dysfunction and may involve dysregulation of the HPA axis, neuroinflammation, impaired neuroplasticity, and disruption of the gut-brain axis (GBA). Gut dysbiosis has been associated with treatment resistance through alterations in monoamine turnover, immune signalling, intestinal barrier integrity, and drug-microbiome interactions affecting antidepressa…
Frontiers in neuroscience · 2026
Lin S, Lin J, Li Y, Liu X, Gu D, Zhang F
Parkinson's disease (PD)-related constipation represents a prevalent and disabling non-motor symptom that imposes a substantial and growing health and economic burden worldwide. Current management strategies, including dietary modification, probiotics, and pharmacological therapies, often provide limited benefit, with potential adverse effects and minimal improvement in other PD-related symptoms. Acupuncture has emerged as a promising complementary therapeutic approach and has demonstrated preliminary clinical efficacy. However, the underlying biological mechanisms and the potential contributi…
Frontiers in microbiology · 2026
Mo W, Cai F, Li L, Liang J, Zhang J, Yao L
Research on irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and the gut microbiome has expanded rapidly. However, the structural evolution of this literature has not been systematically characterized across major indexing platforms. We performed a parallel bibliometric analysis of the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC, n = 1,502), Scopus (n = 1,163), and PubMed (n = 975). The analysis included English-language articles and reviews published from January 2000 to December 2025. WoSCC served as the primary dataset, and Scopus and PubMed were analyzed in parallel for cross-database comparison. Bibliometric map…
Frontiers in nutrition · 2026
Ravi A, Umapathy S, Pan I
Parkinson's disease (PD) is a progressive neurodegenerative disorder characterized by dopaminergic neuronal degeneration, oxidative stress, neuroinflammation, and gut microbiota dysbiosis. Increasing evidence highlights the role of the gut-brain axis (GBA) and probiotic-derived short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) in modulating neuroinflammation and disease progression. This study investigated the neuroprotective potential of SCFAs produced by Lactiplantibacillus plantarum C10 in a rotenone-induced PD zebrafish model. SCFA-producing lactic acid bacteria were isolated from traditionally fermented ca…
Frontiers in nutrition · 2026
Cukaci C, Rabl U, Frey R
Prior evidence for the ketogenic diet (KD) interventions in treatment-resistant depression (TRD) was very limited when recruitment for the present pilot trial began on 1 November 2023. This pilot trial aimed to examine feasibility, adherence, safety, and preliminary clinical signals in patients with TRD treated with a 6-week KD intervention. This prospective, single-arm, open-label pilot trial was conducted in adult patients with TRD who had a baseline Montgomery-Åsberg Depression Rating Scale (MADRS) score of at least 20. The intervention consisted of a 6-week KD; preexisting psychopharmacolo…
The Indian journal of medical research · 2026 Aug
Atıcı Y, Eruyar E, Ökten Z, Serdar CC, Serdar MA, Yücel D
Background and objectives Migraine is a common primary headache disorder associated with neuroinflammation, with evidence implicating gut microbiota and metabolites in neurological mechanisms pathways. Since trimethylamine-N-oxide (TMAO), derived from dietary precursors by gut microbial metabolism, is associated with cardiovascular and neurodegenerative conditions, and its role in migraines is unclear, we aimed to evaluate whether serum TMAO level and related metabolites in migraine patients can be biomarkers. Methods A total of 106 participants were enrolled, consisting of healthy controls (n…
Sports medicine - open · 2026 Aug 5
Wang D, Jin J, Hillman CH, Chang YK
The high relapse rate in methamphetamine (MA) use disorder (MUD) highlights limitations in current treatment approaches. MA disrupts neural circuits underlying reward processing and executive control, inducing maladaptive neuroplastic changes that reinforce compulsive drug-seeking behaviors. We propose a core pathology of MUD that lies in the dysregulation of metaplasticity, pathological alterations in the rules that govern synaptic plasticity. This dysregulation lowers the threshold for strengthening drug-related cues while simultaneously blunting plastic responses to adaptive, non-drug stimu…
Small (Weinheim an der Bergstrasse, Germany) · 2026 Aug 5
Lei T, Yang X, Fu G, Li G, Wu Y, Xue X
Parkinson's disease (PD) is closely associated with abnormal α-synuclein propagation along the gut-brain axis and progressive dopaminergic neuronal loss. Traditional oral preparations suffer from weak gastrointestinal resistance, rapid degradation and poor gut-brain axis regulation. Here, we constructed a gastrodia elata polysaccharide-functionalized dual-network GEPH hydrogel via thiol-maleimide click crosslinking. GEPH possesses favorable biocompatibility, regular porous microstructure and tailored rheological properties suitable for gastrointestinal delivery, showing outstanding erosion res…
Journal of the Canadian Association of Gastroenterology · 2026 Aug
Benchimol MZ, McMurtry CM, Forgeron P, Stinson JN, Ricciuto A, Rights JD
Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic relapsing and remitting disease, frequently causing abdominal pain. The gut-brain axis provides an extensive framework to understand the relationship between IBD and psychological well-being. Accumulating evidence indicates that prolonged psychological stress may worsen IBD symptoms and recurrence. Resilience factors (eg, optimism, self-efficacy, mindfulness) are associated with improved outcomes in other populations with recurrent pain; however, it has not been investigated in adolescent IBD populations. To examine the association between resilien…
Brain and behavior · 2026 Aug
AlRamadneh TN, S RJ, Nayak PP, Nanda A, Hasnaawei SA, Bhatt A
Glioblastoma (GBM) is the most aggressive primary brain tumor in adults and remains difficult to treat because of diffuse invasion, immunosuppression, metabolic adaptability, and therapy resistance. This review evaluates how gut microbiota and microbiota-associated neuroinflammatory signaling may contribute to GBM biology and therapeutic response. We synthesized mechanistic, preclinical, translational, and emerging clinical evidence on microbiota-neuroinflammation interactions in GBM. The review focused on gut-brain axis pathways, microbial metabolites, blood-brain barrier (BBB) regulation, gl…
Clinical nutrition research · 2026 Jun
Song J
Mood disorders, including major depressive disorder, bipolar disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, and posttraumatic stress disorder, constitute a primary source of global disability, and with conventional monoamine-targeted pharmacotherapy, approximately one-third of patients remain with treatment-resistant disease. Over the past decade, the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) has emerged as a systems-level pathophysiological framework that explains the chronic neuroinflammation, hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis hyperactivity, and impaired neuroplasticity that characterize treatment-resista…
International review of neurobiology · 2026
Khodve G, Raval S, Banerjee S
The human gut microbiota represents a complex ecosystem of trillions of microorganisms with profound implications for neurological health. Emerging evidence demonstrates that dysbiosis, an imbalance in microbial composition and function, plays a crucial role in the pathogenesis of neurodegenerative diseases and age-related cognitive decline. This chapter summarizes current knowledge of the microbiota-gut-brain axis (MGBA) and elucidates how intestinal microbes and their metabolites communicate with the central nervous system via neural, immune, endocrine, and metabolic pathways. We examine the…
Molecular biology reports · 2026 Aug 4
Kardan R, Hemmati J, Nazari M, Chegini Z, Ansariniya H
EMs is a chronic, estrogen-dependent systemic inflammatory disorder defined by the ectopic implantation of endometrial glands and stroma and is frequently associated with dysmenorrhea, chronic pelvic pain, infertility, and substantial impairment in quality of life. Despite its high prevalence and socioeconomic burden, the etiopathogenesis of EMs remains incompletely elucidated and appears to involve intricate interactions among endocrine dysregulation, immune dysfunction, epigenetic reprogramming, ferroptosis, miRNA-mediated gene regulation, environmental exposures, and lifestyle-related facto…
Brain structure & function · 2026 Aug 4
Li G, Li Y
This review synthesizes current evidence on the psychological and neurological benefits of physical activity, with emphasis on mental health, Parkinson's disease (PD), and Alzheimer's disease (AD). Physical inactivity is increasingly recognized as a modifiable risk factor that may exacerbate neuroinflammatory and metabolic dysfunctions associated with these conditions. Structured exercise has been shown to activate muscle-brain signaling pathways, including neurotrophic factors (BDNF, IGF-1, VEGF), immune modulation (IL-6, IL-10), metabolic regulators (PGC-1α, SIRT1), and peripheral mediators …
Frontiers in microbiology · 2026
Feng S, Si X, Lu C, Gao Z, Wang J, Yang Q
Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a heterogeneous neurodevelopmental condition characterized by impaired social communication, repetitive behaviors, and restricted interests. Dysregulation of the microbiota-gut-brain axis is closely associated with the pathogenesis of ASD. Washed microbiota transplantation (WMT) has emerged as a promising intervention for ASD, but existing cohort studies lack genetically identical controls, making it difficult to distinguish intervention-related changes from genetic and environmental confounding factors. This twin-paired controlled study adopted a study design…
Frontiers in pharmacology · 2026
Amin A, Ávila-Quezada GD
The key pathological mechanisms in diabetes and neurodegeneration generally involve a progressive accumulation of reactive carbonyl species (RCS), accompanied by increased oxidative stress and the accumulation of inflammatory mediators. Thus, a clear understanding of the Glo1-Nrf2-RAGE axis is crucial as it plays a key role in redox imbalance, regulation of cell responses to methylglyoxal (MG)-induced glycation, and chronic inflammation. Even though glyoxalase I (Glo1) detoxifies MG to mitigate advanced glycation end product (AGE) formation, the transcription of antioxidant enzymes by nuclear …
Neuroscience · 2026 Aug 3
Reyes-Martínez S, Zapata-Martín Del Campo CM, Tesoro-Cruz E, Baldi S, Aguirre-García MM, Amedei A
The human gut microbiome (GM) influences host physiology through the production of bioactive metabolites. Increasing evidence links GM dysbiosis to neuropsychiatric disorders (NPDs), including anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder (MDD), bipolar disorder (BD), and schizophrenia (SCZ), via bidirectional signaling along the gut-brain axis (GBA). Among the pathways connecting gut and brain, the tryptophan-kynurenine pathway (TKP) has emerged as a central inflammatory and neuromodulatory mechanism. During immune activation and dysbiosis, tryptophan metabolism shifts toward kynurenine produc…
Antonie van Leeuwenhoek · 2026 Aug 3
Li YM, Shao QZ, Ko CY, Chen Y, Haley DR, Hamadi HY
Parkinson's disease (PD) is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder, affecting approximately 10 million people worldwide. Growing evidence suggests that gut microbial dysbiosis may be crucial in PD pathogenesis through the gut-brain axis. However, bacterial profiles can vary based on factors like diet, age, and medication use. This study explores gut microbial dysbiosis in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), considering disease severity, age, and medication use.Faecal samples were collected from PD patients (n = 42) and age-matched controls (n = 25) and analysed using 16S rRNA ge…
Minerva gastroenterology · 2026 Aug 3
D'Onofrio AM, Bertin L, Ferrajoli GF, Pirro P, Savarino EV, Napolitano D
Selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) and serotonin-norepinephrine reuptake inhibitors (SNRIs) are widely used in psychiatry for mood and anxiety disorders but remain underexplored in chronic gastrointestinal conditions such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI). This review synthesizes emerging evidence on their potential therapeutic role, focusing on shared neurobiological and immunometabolic mechanisms within the bidirectional microbiota-gut-brain axis. We reviewed preclinical and clinical studies investigating SSRIs and SNRIs in IBD and…