Mind over matter: the microbial mindscapes of psychedelics and the gut-brain axis.
Pharmacological research September 1, 2024 Giorgia Caspani, Simon G D Ruffell, WaiFung Tsang et al. 13 citations
Psychedelics show promise for treating psychiatric disorders, but current explanations focus mainly on their action at serotonin receptors in the brain. This review argues that the gut microbiota, via the gut-brain axis, may also play a role. Evidence suggests psychedelics can alter gut microbiota composition, and microbial metabolism might influence psychedelic effects. The authors call for incorporating microbiome hypotheses into future research, which could lead to personalized psychedelic therapies tailored to individual gut microbiota profiles.