Title: Post-Stroke Gut Microbiota Dysbiosis: Mechanisms, Clinical Evidence, and Therapeutic Frontiers
Authors: Dr Keemaya Gurudutt Joglekar, M.B.B.S., Dr Amit Ajit Desai, M.S., M.R.C.S, FIAGES
DOI: https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v13i10.02
Abstract
Stroke remains a leading cause of death and disability worldwide, yet therapeutic strategies to enhance recovery are limited. Emerging evidence highlights the gut microbiota as a crucial regulator of post-stroke inflammation, neuroplasticity, and systemic health. Post-stroke gut dysbiosis disrupts intestinal barrier integrity, alters microbial metabolite profiles, and drives maladaptive immune responses, negatively influencing neurological recovery. Preclinical studies indicate that probiotics, fecal microbiota transplantation (FMT), and short-chain fatty acid (SCFA) supplementation can reduce neuroinflammation and improve functional outcomes. This narrative review synthesizes mechanistic insights and clinical findings, emphasizing studies by Benakis et al. (2016), Singh et al. (2016), Peh et al. (2022), Zhao et al. (2018), Lee et al. (2020), and Hammond et al. (2022). We also discuss microbiota-targeted therapeutic strategies, current challenges, and future directions for translating these findings into personalized interventions.
Keywords- Stroke, Gut microbiota, dysbiosis.
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