Manu Goyal|Siddarth Venkatesh|Jeffrey Milbrandt|Jeffrey I. Gordon|Marcus E. Raichle
Feeding the brain and nurturing the mind: Linking nutrition and the gut microbiota to brain development
Mallinckrodt (United States)|Washington University in St. Louis|Washington University in St. Louis|Hope Center for Neurological Disorders|Washington University in St. Louis|Mallinckrodt (United States)
human gut contains microbial community composed tens trillions organisms normally assemble first 23 postnatal life propose brain development needs viewed context developmental biology microbial organ capacity metabolize various diets consume hypothesize persistent cognitive abnormalities seen children undernutrition related part persistent gut microbiota immaturity specific regions brain normally exhibit persistent juvenile neotenous patterns gene expression including critically involved various higher cognitive functions brains default mode network may particularly vulnerable effects microbiota immaturity undernourished children furthermore postulate understanding interrelationships microbiota brain metabolism childhood undernutrition could provide insights responses injury seen adults discuss approaches used test hypotheses ramifications optimizing nutritional recommendations promote healthy brain development function potential societal implications area investigation