Microbiota and intellect

Abstract

The gut microbiota is responsible for a multitude of vital functions, and prolongated disfunctions related to this system (disbiosis) can be correlated with manifestation of different pathologies. Colonization and subsequent development of intestinal microbiota at an early age can play an important role in normalizing a person’s cognitive, motor and emotional development and can even define future general and mental health. The influence of the gut microbiota on human intellect is based on the microbiota - gut - brain axis, which is actively studied with microbiological techniques and lab animal models, however, observational and interventional studies involving humans are also conducted. This is a two dinentional communication network between the intestine and the brain, and one of it’s functional roles is influence of gut microbiota on multiple aspects of development and functioning of the center nervous system involving several mechanisms, the most studied of which is the synthesis of neuroactive compounds such as neurotransmitters, hormone like substances and other bacterial metabolites. Research conducted in the context of the influence of the gut microbiota on human intellect is focused not only on the identification of specific bacterial agents producing neuroactive components, but also on their actual contribution to changes in cognitive functions, long term and short term memory, attention, as well as on their potential participation in the prevention and treatment of depressive disorders and dementia. The gut mictobiota can be defined as one of important environmental factors in the implementation of the genetical and epigenetical program for the development of the nervous system including human intellect. This review is focused on the analysis of the literature sources containing data on studying the influence of the gut microbiota on human intellect.