Evidence map›Paper›PMID 40944778›Full record

ReviewAntonie van Leeuwenhoek2025

Microbial modulators of the mind: probiotic interventions in hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive flexibility.

Jianghua Zhao, Huiquan Liu, Bita Badehnoosh

Abstract readReview
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Review in Antonie van Leeuwenhoek, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
  2. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

3 authors.

Jianghua ZhaoSchool of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology (ShanDong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250000, China.
Huiquan LiuSchool of Bioengineering, Qilu University of Technology (ShanDong Academy of Sciences), Jinan, 250000, China. 15628846736@163.com.
Bita BadehnooshDepartment of Gynecology and Obstetrics, Dietary Supplements and Probiotic Research Center, Alborz University of Medical Sciences, Karaj, Iran. b_badehnoosh@yahoo.com.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

The gut-brain axis serves as a foundational communication channel between the intestinal microbiome and the brain, facilitating microbial impact on neural functions. Probiotics, defined as health-promoting live microorganisms, are being increasingly investigated for their regulatory effects on neuroplasticity and mental acuity. Recent evidence suggests that probiotics modulate hippocampal neurogenesis, a crucial process underlying learning, memory, and cognitive flexibility. Through the suppression of pro-inflammatory mechanisms, enhancement of neurotrophic factor biosynthesis, alleviation of oxidative burden, and stabilization of HPA axis function, probiotics contribute to sustaining hippocampal neural resilience and promoting synaptic adaptability. Evidence from both preclinical experiments and clinical evaluations suggests that strains like Lactobacillus rhamnosus, Bifidobacterium longum, and Lactobacillus plantarum may play a beneficial role in promoting adaptive cognitive functioning. These benefits are thought to be mediated via increased expression of brain-derived neurotrophic factor, modulation of microglial activation, and alteration of neurotransmitter metabolism including serotonin, dopamine, and GABA. This review synthesizes current findings on the molecular and cellular pathways through which probiotics support hippocampal neurogenesis and cognitive flexibility, and discusses their potential as a non-invasive, adjuvant strategy for cognitive enhancement in neurological disorders and age-related cognitive decline.

Indexed as

CognitionGastrointestinal MicrobiomeHippocampusNeurogenesisProbioticsAnimalsCognitive FlexibilityHumansCognitive flexibilityHippocampal neurogenesisLearningMemoryProbiotic

Identifiers

What Socratic holds

Textmetadata
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.