The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degeneration
Age-related macular degeneration is a serious neurodegenerative disease of the retina that significantly impacts vision. Unfortunately, the specific pathogenesis remains unclear, and effective early treatment options are consequently lacking. The microbiome is defined as a large ecosystem of microor...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications
2025-10-01
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| Series: | Neural Regeneration Research |
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| Online Access: | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00531 |
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| author | Qianzi Jin Suyu Wang Yujia Yao Qin Jiang Keran Li |
| author_facet | Qianzi Jin Suyu Wang Yujia Yao Qin Jiang Keran Li |
| author_sort | Qianzi Jin |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Age-related macular degeneration is a serious neurodegenerative disease of the retina that significantly impacts vision. Unfortunately, the specific pathogenesis remains unclear, and effective early treatment options are consequently lacking. The microbiome is defined as a large ecosystem of microorganisms living within and coexisting with a host. The intestinal microbiome undergoes dynamic changes owing to age, diet, genetics, and other factors. Such dysregulation of the intestinal flora can disrupt the microecological balance, resulting in immunological and metabolic dysfunction in the host, and affecting the development of many diseases. In recent decades, significant evidence has indicated that the intestinal flora also influences systems outside of the digestive tract, including the brain. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated the critical role of the gut–brain axis in the development of brain neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Similarly, the role of the “gut–eye axis” has been confirmed to play a role in the pathogenesis of many ocular disorders. Moreover, age-related macular degeneration and many brain neurodegenerative diseases have been shown to share several risk factors and to exhibit comparable etiologies. As such, the intestinal flora may play an important role in age-related macular degeneration. Given the above context, the present review aims to clarify the gut–brain and gut–eye connections, assess the effect of intestinal flora and metabolites on age-related macular degeneration, and identify potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies. Currently, direct research on the role of intestinal flora in age-related macular degeneration is still relatively limited, while studies focusing solely on intestinal flora are insufficient to fully elucidate its functional role in age-related macular degeneration. Organ-on-a-chip technology has shown promise in clarifying the gut–eye interactions, while integrating analysis of the intestinal flora with research on metabolites through metabolomics and other techniques is crucial for understanding their potential mechanisms. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-40d922b6fbcd42eab1ee9afb355b1dcb |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1673-5374 1876-7958 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-10-01 |
| publisher | Wolters Kluwer Medknow Publications |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Neural Regeneration Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-40d922b6fbcd42eab1ee9afb355b1dcb2024-12-09T09:33:30ZengWolters Kluwer Medknow PublicationsNeural Regeneration Research1673-53741876-79582025-10-0120102741275710.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00531The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degenerationQianzi JinSuyu WangYujia YaoQin JiangKeran LiAge-related macular degeneration is a serious neurodegenerative disease of the retina that significantly impacts vision. Unfortunately, the specific pathogenesis remains unclear, and effective early treatment options are consequently lacking. The microbiome is defined as a large ecosystem of microorganisms living within and coexisting with a host. The intestinal microbiome undergoes dynamic changes owing to age, diet, genetics, and other factors. Such dysregulation of the intestinal flora can disrupt the microecological balance, resulting in immunological and metabolic dysfunction in the host, and affecting the development of many diseases. In recent decades, significant evidence has indicated that the intestinal flora also influences systems outside of the digestive tract, including the brain. Indeed, several studies have demonstrated the critical role of the gut–brain axis in the development of brain neurodegenerative diseases, including Alzheimer’s disease and Parkinson’s disease. Similarly, the role of the “gut–eye axis” has been confirmed to play a role in the pathogenesis of many ocular disorders. Moreover, age-related macular degeneration and many brain neurodegenerative diseases have been shown to share several risk factors and to exhibit comparable etiologies. As such, the intestinal flora may play an important role in age-related macular degeneration. Given the above context, the present review aims to clarify the gut–brain and gut–eye connections, assess the effect of intestinal flora and metabolites on age-related macular degeneration, and identify potential diagnostic markers and therapeutic strategies. Currently, direct research on the role of intestinal flora in age-related macular degeneration is still relatively limited, while studies focusing solely on intestinal flora are insufficient to fully elucidate its functional role in age-related macular degeneration. Organ-on-a-chip technology has shown promise in clarifying the gut–eye interactions, while integrating analysis of the intestinal flora with research on metabolites through metabolomics and other techniques is crucial for understanding their potential mechanisms.https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00531age-related macular degenerationbiological agentsblinding eye diseasedietary nutritionfecal microbial transplantationgut–eye axisintestinal florametabolitemicroecologyneurodegenerative disease |
| spellingShingle | Qianzi Jin Suyu Wang Yujia Yao Qin Jiang Keran Li The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degeneration Neural Regeneration Research age-related macular degeneration biological agents blinding eye disease dietary nutrition fecal microbial transplantation gut–eye axis intestinal flora metabolite microecology neurodegenerative disease |
| title | The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degeneration |
| title_full | The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degeneration |
| title_fullStr | The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degeneration |
| title_full_unstemmed | The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degeneration |
| title_short | The gut–eye axis: from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age-related macular degeneration |
| title_sort | gut eye axis from brain neurodegenerative diseases to age related macular degeneration |
| topic | age-related macular degeneration biological agents blinding eye disease dietary nutrition fecal microbial transplantation gut–eye axis intestinal flora metabolite microecology neurodegenerative disease |
| url | https://journals.lww.com/10.4103/NRR.NRR-D-24-00531 |
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