REVIEW
Neonate gut colonization: The rise of a social brain
Katerina Karaivazoglou,
Christos Konstantakis,
Stelios F. Assimakopoulos,
Christos Triantos,
Katerina Karaivazoglou
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Centre for Children with Developmental Disorders, EPSYPEA, Mesolongi, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorChristos Konstantakis
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorStelios F. Assimakopoulos
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Christos Triantos
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Correspondence
Christos Triantos, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorKaterina Karaivazoglou,
Christos Konstantakis,
Stelios F. Assimakopoulos,
Christos Triantos,
Katerina Karaivazoglou
Department of Psychiatry, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Centre for Children with Developmental Disorders, EPSYPEA, Mesolongi, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorChristos Konstantakis
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorStelios F. Assimakopoulos
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Search for more papers by this authorCorresponding Author
Christos Triantos
Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece
Correspondence
Christos Triantos, Division of Gastroenterology, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Patras, Rio, Greece.
Email: [email protected]
Search for more papers by this authorAbstract
Background
The human gut microbiota constitutes an integral part of human physiology, playing an important role in maintaining health, and compositional or functional changes in intestinal microbiota may be associated with the emergence of several chronic diseases. Animal and human studies have shown that there is a dynamic cross-talk between intestinal microorganisms and brain networks which has an impact on neurodevelopment and may be extremely critical in shaping human social behavior.
Purpose
The aim of the current review is to appraise and present in a concise manner all findings linking the evolution of neonate and infant gut colonization with early social development and to formulate scientifically informed hypotheses which could guide future research on this field.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors have no competing interests.
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