The Impact of the Vagus Nerve on Neurodegenerative and Neuropsychiatric Conditions in Connection with the Oral and Intestinal Microbiome

Gözde İNa , Beste TACAL ASLANb , Tanju KADİRb

aMarmara University Institute of Health Sciences, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye
bMarmara University Faculty of Dentistry, Department of Basic Medical Sciences, İstanbul, Türkiye

ABSTRACT
The vagus nerve (VN) is a major component of the parasympathetic nervous system, which oversees a wide range of important bodily functions, including mood control, immune response, digestion, and heart rate. It extends from its origin in the truncus cerebri to the neck and rib cage, and from there to the abdomen. It is also called the ”wandering nerve” because of its long path in the human body. The microbiome is an area of research that has received a lot of attention in recent years. Initial studies focused more on the intestinal microbiome and emphasized its effectiveness in preserving homeostasis as well as VN. Recent studies on neuropsychiatric diseases (NPD) have shown that the gut microbiome can correspond with the brain via the Gut-Brain Axis (GBA) and take part in diseases by affecting the brain. However, parallel studies examining the association between the oral microbiome and the brain also suggest oral bacteria may also influence NPD outcomes. However, the practices and pathways explaining how the oral flora and brain communicate in NPD remain largely unknown. This review will try to explain the activities of the vagus nerve and microbiome for neurodegenerative and neuropsychiatric diseases.
Keywords: Vagus nerve; gut microbiome-brain axis; oral microbiome; neurodegenerative disease; neuropsychiatric disease

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