The gut is no longer just about digestion—it’s a dynamic ecosystem with profound influence on mental health, cognition, and behaviour. This session explores the emerging science of the gut-brain axis and its implications for pharmacy practice. We’ll examine how medications can alter gut microbiota, how microbial diversity affects brain function, and what it means to prescribe (medicines and food!) with the microbiome in mind. It will unpack the evidence, challenge assumptions, and consider how pharmacists can support whole-person care through microbiome-aware interventions.

This presentation will address the following learning objectives:

• Describe the relationship between the microbiome and the brain
• Explain how medications can impact gut microbiota
• Describe how the gut microbiome can influence mental health and brain function
• Explain what gut friendly prescribing is