The impact of gut microbiota on the development of refractory epilepsy

Abstract

The gut microbiota could regulate brain function and behavior via microbiota⁃gut⁃brain axis and is associated with the pathogenesis of various neurological diseases. Significant alteration of gut microbiota is seen in patients with epilepsy, but consistent microbiota change has not yet been obtained. We aimed to summarize the changes of gut microbiota in patients with epilepsy, the relationship between gut microbiota and epilepsy, the anti⁃seizure effect of gut microbiota, and the potential mechanism of gut microbiota⁃gut⁃brain axis in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, which would help to provide new therapeutic targets for the treatment of refractory epilepsy.

Keywords

• epilepsy
• gastrointestinal microbiome
• review