The nine months of pregnancy represent the most rapid and consequential period of brain development in human life. By birth, a baby’s brain contains roughly 100 billion neurons, nearly all of which were produced during gestation. The nutritional environment during this window has lasting effects on the architecture, connectivity, and …
Early-Life Penicillin Exposure: Gut Microbiome and Brain Gene Expression
Volkova et al. (2021) investigated the effects of early-life exposure to low-dose penicillin on the gut microbiome and gene expression in brain regions critical for neurodevelopment. Using a mouse model, the study provides important insights into how antibiotics may influence the gut-brain axis and potentially contribute to neurodevelopmental disorders. Background …