Conventional treatments for schizophrenia are found to be effective for about half of patients, but may come with serious side effects. This has led to the exploration of psychobiotics—probiotics or prebiotics that modulate the gut microbiota and neuroinflammatory pathways. Research has highlighted neuroinflammation’s role in schizophrenia, suggesting psychobiotics may help by influencing immune responses and altering gut microbiota composition. Studies have linked chronic neuroinflammation to schizophrenia, showing psychobiotics’ potential to reduce symptoms, particularly negative and depressive ones.

Psychobiotics can modify the gut microbiota, improving symptoms in mental health disorders by altering the balance of beneficial bacteria and boosting neurotransmitter production. Some psychobiotics promote anti-inflammatory bacteria, helping reduce neuroinflammation in schizophrenia. Additionally, they influence neurotransmitters like GABA and serotonin, impacting mood and behavior. Advancements in nanotechnology and artificial intelligence further support this approach by protecting probiotics in the gastrointestinal tract. These technologies also optimize psychobiotic treatments through microbiome data analysis, paving the way for more personalized therapies for schizophrenia.

Reference: Mosquera FEC, Guevara-Montoya MC, Serna-Ramirez V, Liscano Y. Neuroinflammation and Schizophrenia: New Therapeutic Strategies through Psychobiotics, Nanotechnology, and Artificial Intelligence (AI). J Pers Med. 2024;14(4):391. doi: 10.3390/jpm14040391.