Neurogastroenterology & the Gut-Brain Axis

The gut-brain axis is the bidirectional communication pathway between the gut and the brain, which includes hormonal, neural, and immune mediators. Studies suggest that alterations in the gut-brain axis may be involved in the pathogenesis of an array of disorders, including disorders of gut-brain interaction (DGBI), Parkinson’s disease, and dementia. How does the latest gut-brain axis research support the functional medicine approach to optimal digestive and gastrointestinal health?

GUT HEALTH AND WHOLE-BODY CONNECTIONS
Gut health is closely connected to many systems throughout the body, including immune function, metabolism, sleep, and cellular energy. Explore how a functional medicine approach can help uncover underlying contributors to gastrointestinal imbalance and inform personalized strategies to support the microbiome and overall health.

Connecting Mitochondria and Gut Health

Recent research suggests a connection between gut microbes and the mitochondria of several cell types. What are the known mechanisms, and how may they inform therapeutic treatment and prevention strategies?

Lifestyle Factors & Gut Health: A Focus on Sleep

What is the connection between reduced sleep quality and a dysbiotic gut microbiome, and how can the functional medicine approach help?

Gastrointestinal Involvement in COVID-19: Supporting the Gut Microbiome

How can functional medicine practitioners harmonize the gut microbiome to promote healing and immune health in both acute and long-COVID patients?

Childhood Antibiotics and Adult Health

How might early-life gut health stressors impact overall health later in life, and how can
the functional medicine approach help?

Chronic Pain, Nutrition, and Mitochondria 

Research indicates that nutritional modifications and supporting mitochondrial health are examples of promising therapeutic interventions for those with chronic pain.

Experience All the Moments of AIC 2026

Did you miss out on IFM’s Annual International Conference this year? Experience all the mainstage and concurrent presentations from the year’s premier functional medicine event in the conference proceedings.

AIC 2026 Poster Session Manuscripts

Poster sessions at AIC 2026 presented functional medicine research and clinical advances from authors with diverse scopes of practice. Several of these were published in a special edition of Integrative Medicine: A Clinician’s Journal (IMCJ).