近幾十年來，大量研究證實了人類微生物群在人類健康和疾病中起了重要的作用。腸道菌群經由腦腸軸線有助於大腦和行為的調節。腦腸軸線通過免疫系統、下丘腦-垂體-腎上腺軸、色氨酸代謝、迷走神經以及細菌代謝物達到大腦與腸道之間的雙向交流。也有大量研究指出腸道菌群失調可介導或影響各種疾病，而這次主要是探討腸道菌群對中樞神經系統疾病的一些影響和治療作用，包括帕金森氏病、阿爾茨海默氏病、抑鬱症和自閉症。糞便菌群移植是近年來被廣泛研究的一種醫學療法，透過移植腸道中正常微生物菌群到病人身上達到治病的目的。近年也有部分實驗指出糞便菌群移植能對中樞神經系統疾病的行為或症狀有所改善，有望未來能利用糞便菌群移植來治療中樞神經系統疾病。
Over the past few decades, many studies have confirmed that the importance of the human microbiota to human health and disease has become increasingly evident. The gut microbiota acting via the brain-gut axis contributes to the regulation of brain and behavior. The bidirectional communication between the brain and the gut microbiota can through the immune system, hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenal axis, tryptophan metabolism, vagus nerve and bacterial metabolites. Recent studies have shown that the gut microbiota dysregulation can mediate or affect various diseases. This article explores the effect and therapeutic potential of gut microbiota in central nervous system disorders, including Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, autism and depression. Fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT) is a medical treatment that has been extensively studied in recent years. FMT is the administration of a solution of fecal matter from a donor into the intestinal tract of a recipient in order to directly change the recipient’s gut microbial composition and confer a health benefit. Some animal experiments indicated that the FMT can improve the behavior or symptoms of central nervous system diseases. It is expected that the FMT can be used to treat central nervous system diseases in the future.
