Altering the Gut Microbiome for Cognitive Benefit

Dietary factors, probiotics, and prebiotics are a means by which the human gut microbiota may be altered for cognitive benefit. Inflammatory bowel diseases, functional disorders of the gut, and metabolic disorders including diabetes and obesity are associated with intestinal dysbiosis and frequently manifest with psychological disturbances, including impaired learning and memory and elevated anxiety and depression. Although the mechanism by which altered microbiota could induce cognitive changes is not well characterized and likely multifactorial, several neuronal, humoral, and hormonal factors have been linked to this process. This chapter serves to survey the existing literature and summarize how altering the microbiota via dietary manipulation and probiotic or prebiotic administration may be of cognitive benefit while also discussing potential mechanisms by which the gut microbiota communicates with the brain to potentially mediate these effects.