What if neurologists started prescribing probiotics and prebiotics? Or if gastro-neurology was a common practice?
I love the name of this review article “The gut microbiome in drug-resistant epilepsy”. The article emphasizes the importance of identifying the connection between the disgestive system and seizures (yes, you’ve read this correctly) and reviews current therapeuctics for gut microbiome dysbiosis.
The researchers make 4 very important key points:
- “Approximately 1/3 of the world epilepsy popula-tion suffers from drug-resistant epilepsy•
- Intestinal dysbiosis challenges brain homeostasis and seems to be present in patients with drug-re-sistant epilepsy•
- The mechanism of action of the ketogenic diet might be mediated by alterations in the intestinal microbiota composition•
- Overall, current evidence supports modifica-tion of gut microbiome, as a therapeutic target for drug-resistant epilepsy, but more research is necessary”
Two figures worth noting.
Figure 1: “The gut microbiome effects on epilepsy are driven by environmental factors. On the right column (painted in red), we present the factors considered to provoke intestinal dysbiosis and indirectly induce epileptogenesis. On the left column, we present the factors that are assumed to enhance intestinal eubiosis. These are considered as potential therapeutic targets in drug-resistant epilepsy.”
Figure 2:
“Presumptive mechanisms through which the gut microbiota modulate seizure susceptibility”
The above is very central to the work that I do. I’m hopeful that one day this will become more of a common practice rather than a rarity.
Bringing much light,
Lynn
