Pathologies that arise during critical stages of infant brain development such as autism spectrum disorder and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder have no known causes. While infant trials are scarce, preliminary mice trials have proven associations between neurological pathologies and gastrointestinal microbiota (GIM). Presently, research on the human gut-brain axis connection has found similarities to these mice models. This review will critically examine recent studies which associate GIM with developmental benchmarks in infants.

Approximately 10% of the world’s population is affected by irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), a common gastrointestinal disorder that is notable for abdominal pain and bloating. These appear as several subtypes of symptoms that likely result from individuals’ unique microbiota and response to psychological stress. This literature review investigates the factors that lead to IBS and its diverse treatment options.

Roughly 30% of people worldwide are overweight or obese. In the past four decades, obesity rates have nearly doubled in over seventy countries. Overweight and obese individuals are at higher risk for various illnesses such as type 2 diabetes and heart disease. A healthy diet and exercise are known methods to combat and prevent obesity. Unfortunately, many people with low ...

In a paper published in Nature Communications on April 15, researchers profiled the gut microbiota of a group of hunter-gatherers in Tanzania known as the Hadza. They compared the results to those of people living in Italy, and found that the two groups have very different species composition. The Hadza don’t only have different kinds of gut microbes than Westerners, but a more diverse ...