Abstract
Once considered to function somewhat in isolation of other physiological systems largely by virtue of the blood-brain barrier, it is now known that the brain is connected in a bidirectional manner with the gastrointestinal tract and the resident microbes that make up the microbiota. Diet and lifestyle significantly impact the richness and diversity of the gut microbiota, existing in a symbiotic relationship with the host. Because the microbiota can influence the nervous system, imbalances in the microbiota known as dysbiosis can have marked effects on neurological function and neurodegeneration. Antimicrobial therapies directed at eradicating undesirable microbes or probiotic therapies directed at replacing or increasing levels of commensals have had mixed results. Recent suggestions that the host colonocyte may be the primary driver of the gut ecosystem is highlighted in this chapter as an alternative therapeutic strategy to address gut health and conditions aligned with the concept of the gut-brain axis.
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