Probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics on neurological disorders: Relevance to Huntington's disease

Food has an undeniable impact on the overall functioning of the human body, affecting various physiological and developmental processes based on its nutritive values. It plays an important part in development, maturation and functioning of the brain. The major impact of our diet on the brain is coordinated through the Gut-Brain axis (GBA). The Gut-Brain axis is an arrangement of networks communicating between gut and the brain. The commensal gut microbiota present in the gastro-intestinal tract (GIT) are involved in aiding the process of food metabolism; they have their own impact on the functioning of the GBA and also use the GBA as a route to communicate with brain. Interestingly, the gut microbiome have a pivotal role in the normal function and development of the brain, and in some instances it is even responsible for the development of neurodegerative diseases due to dysbiosis or unfavorable alterations. Probiotics and prebiotics are live microorganisms that are fermentable and are non-digestible oligosaccharides respectively; together they are referred to as synbiotics. This review is meant to highlight the promising health benefits of probiotics, prebiotics, and synbiotics and their ability to improve the life style and alleviate the existing symptoms of patients suffering from various neurodegenerative diseases such as Huntington's disease, which has a both genetic and nongenetic origin.