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It is becoming increasingly evident that bidirectional signalling exists between the gastrointestinal tract and the brain, often involving the gut microbiota. This relationship, commonly dubbed the gut–brain axis (or the microbiota–gut–brain axis), involves various afferent and efferent pathways such as the vagus nerve and the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal pathway to regulate aspects of homeostasis such as satiety and hunger, and inflammation. Disruption of the gut–brain axis has been shown to be involved in the pathogenesis of a diverse range of diseases, including Parkinson disease and irritable bowel syndrome. This emerging area of research is evolving quickly.
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