Speakers - 2026

Title: Intestines and impulses, the gut brain axis in addiction

Abstract

Evidence based research recognizes the strong influence of the gut microbiome on brain function, behavior, and vulnerability to addiction. This innovative session will explore this fascinating bidirectional conversation between the gut–brain axis. Data clearly shows how focusing on how microbial composition and vagal nerve signaling alters reward circuitry, stress responses, and craving. Participants will examine current evidence linking microbiome changes to substance use disorders, review easy to implement therapeutic strategies such as probiotics, dietary interventions, and microbiome modulation. Every patient with addiction deserves a comprehensive analysis of their gut-brain connection. Clinicians treating patients with addictions should appreciate how gut health shapes addiction. offering new perspectives for patient care and future research.

Audience take away from presentation:

• An overview of the gut microbiome's role in addiction.
• An appreciation of how small bowel intestinal overgrowth (SIBO) and Small intestinal fungal overgrowth (SIFO) impacts addictive behaviors.
• The ability to employ common stool and serological testing that can be done to assess the gut microbiome. Yes! Addiction professionals can order stool tests!
• An appreciation of the interventions to address microbial diversity which will help mitigate addictive behaviors (i.e. know which dietary intervention and probiotic may help or hurt addictive behaviors).
• Lifestyle and diet intervention that can enhance beneficial gut-brain communication Attendees will leave with powerful tools to immediately address this unmet need in many patients with addiction.