Ask Dr. Nick
On today’s episode, Dr. Nick talks about the benefits of taking probiotics after a traumatic brain injury (TBI). The gut-brain axis is important in maintaining proper functioning in both the brain and gut, but the gut microbiome is also essential. The gut microbiome is a large and diverse collection of bacteria and viruses that help support our immune system, digestion, and brain function. After a TBI, disruptions in the blood brain barrier and gut-brain axis can cause dysregulation of the gut microbiome resulting in dysbiosis. Dysbiosis can promote neuroinflammation, intestinal permeability or “leaky gut,” and mood and cognitive impairments. In order to prevent long-term complications following a concussion, proper probiotic supplementation may be beneficial. Check out the video for more in depth information on the benefits of probiotics following brain injury!
George AK, Behera J, Homme RP, Tyagi N, Tyagi SC, Singh M. Rebuilding Microbiome for Mitigating Traumatic Brain Injury: Importance of Restructuring the Gut-Microbiome-Brain Axis. Mol Neurobiol. 2021;58(8):3614-3627.
