EVALUATING NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL MARKERS OF THE MICROBIOTA–GUT–BRAIN AXIS: IMPACT ON PSYCHOLOGICAL AND METABOLIC HEALTH

Abstract

By 2026, the microbiota–gut–brain axis (MGBA) is recognized as a fundamental regulator of systemic physiology, moving from purely associative rodent studies to a mechanistic understanding in human clinical populations. This review evaluates key neurophysiological markers used to understand how gut-derived signals influence the brain. We analyze anatomical highways like the vagus nerve, molecular signals such as short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs), and emerging neuroimaging markers like the DTI-ALPS index for glymphatic clearance. The synthesis of these markers reveals how dysbiosis drives psychological conditions—including anxiety and depression—and metabolic disorders such as obesity and Type 2 Diabetes.