Priming for health: Gut microbiota acquired in early life regulates physiology, brain and behaviour

The infant gut microbiome is dynamic, and radical shifts in composition occur during the first 3 years of life. Disruption of these developmental patterns, and the impact of the microbial composition of our gut on brain and behaviour, has attracted much recent attention. Integrating these observations is an important new research frontier. Conclusion Early-life perturbations of the developing gut microbiota can impact on the central nervous system and potentially lead to adverse mental health outcomes.