Neurological Diseases and the Microbiome: Mechanistic Links and Therapeutic Opportunities

The relationship between the gut microbiome and neurological diseases has become one of the most dynamic fields of modern neuroscience. Increasing evidence from experimental and clinical studies demonstrates that gut microbes participate in key neurobiological processes, influencing neurodevelopment, neuroinflammation, and neurodegeneration through immune, metabolic, and neural pathways. Dysbiosis, or the imbalance of gut microbial communities, has been linked to several neurological disorders, including Parkinson’s disease, Alzheimer’s disease, multiple sclerosis, and autism spectrum disorder. However, the precise mechanisms underpinning these links and the causal pathways that drive disease onset or progression remain elusive. Novel findings employing metagenomics, metabolomics, and neural imaging techniques have revealed molecular dialogues between gut microbes and the central nervous system, yet translating these into effective therapies is still a major challenge. The field currently demands integrated approaches that combine mechanistic exploration, biomarker identification, and therapeutic innovation.This Research Topic aims to elucidate the mechanistic underpinnings of the gut-brain axis in neurological diseases and to advance the development of microbiome-based diagnostic and therapeutic strategies. It seeks to consolidate recent findings that expand our understanding of how microbial communities influence neurophysiology and disease trajectories. Key goals include defining causal relationships between microbial alterations and neurological symptoms, uncovering molecular and immune mediators of this interaction, and exploring interventions that can modulate microbial ecosystems to improve neurological outcomes. Building this mechanistic and translational knowledge will help bridge basic science with clinical application, paving the way for targeted microbiome-informed therapies.To gather further insights into the complex interconnection between the microbiome and neurological health, we welcome submissions addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:Microbiome composition and function in neurodegenerative and neurodevelopmental disordersMechanistic pathways linking gut microbes to neuroinflammation and neural signalingMetabolomic and immunological mediators of microbiome–brain communicationMicrobiota-targeted interventions, including probiotics, dietary approaches, and fecal microbiota transplantationTranslational barriers and opportunities for microbiome-informed therapies in neurologyAdvanced omics, bioinformatics, and preclinical models for studying microbiome–brain interactions Topic editors: Harrie Toms John, NICOLETA NEGRUT, Andreea Fitero, Madiha Abbas Source: https://www.frontiersin.org/research-topics/77214/neurological-diseases-and-the-microbiome-mechanistic-links-and-therapeutic-opportunities