Enhancing Cognitive Health with Psychobiotics
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.31989/afbc.v2i5.1651Abstract
The intricate connection between the gut microbiota and brain function, known as the gut-brain axis, has opened novel avenues for addressing cognitive health challenges. Psychobiotics, defined as probiotics or prebiotics that confer mental health benefits, are gaining considerable attention for their potential therapeutic roles. This review comprehensively explores the emerging landscape of psychobiotics found in fermented foods, focusing specifically on their mechanisms of action via bioactive compounds and their utility in managing cognitive disease-related symptoms and preventing neurodegenerative conditions.
We synthesize current research on how specific psychobiotic strains and the bioactive molecules they produce or modulate (e.g., short-chain fatty acids, neurotransmitters, amino acids, polyphenols) interact with the gut-brain axis to influence neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neural plasticity, thereby impacting cognitive function. The review highlights evidence from in vitro, in vivo, and preliminary human studies that underscore the promise of fermented food-derived psychobiotics as a novel, diet-based strategy for supporting cognitive health and potentially mitigating the onset or progression of cognitive decline.
While significant advancements have been made, further rigorous clinical trials are essential to elucidate optimal strains, dosages, and long-term efficacy, paving the way for developing targeted functional foods for cognitive support.
Novelty of the Study: This review is among the first to comprehensively analyze the role of psychobiotics explicitly derived from fermented foods in supporting cognitive function through the gut-brain axis. It uniquely highlights how these food-based microorganisms influence neuroinflammation, oxidative stress, and neurotransmitter pathways via bioactive compounds. The work also introduces the emerging concept of functional fermented foods as viable dietary tools for early cognitive support and neurodegenerative disease prevention.
Keywords: Psychobiotics, Fermented Foods, Cognitive Health, Gut-Brain Axis, Bioactive Compounds, Neurodegeneration, Functional Food, Probiotics, Prebiotics
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