There is increasing evidence showing that the dynamic changes in the gut microbiota can alter brain physiology and behavior. Cognition was originally thought to be regulated only by the central nervous system. However, it is now becoming clear that many non-nervous system factors, including the gut-resident bacteria of the gastrointestinal tract, regulate and influence cognitive dysfunction as well as the process of neurodegeneration and cerebrovascular diseases.Dr B, as he prefers to be called, has a fun and agenda-free way of bringing the latest in gut health science to his clinical practice, website and social media (@theguthealthmd) to educate the world. Dr B’s resume speaks for itself – here is just a short list of some of the things he has already achieved in his career:Qualified MD, a graduate of Georgetown University School of MedicineBoard-certified in internal medicine and GastroenterologyMaster of Science in Clinical Investigation (MSCI) from Northwestern University and a certificate in nutrition from Cornell UniversityAt UNC he received the highest clinical award and was Chief Gastroenterology FellowHe has published more than 20 scientific articles and given more than 40 presentations at national meetingsIn this episode we discuss the following points: 1. How the gut is the second brain2. The role of neuroscience in relation to brain health3. What Microbiome is4. The role of Pre and #Probiotics We take a deep dive into the microbiome and its pathways. We then move forward to discuss what contributes to a healthy microbiome and what causes disease.