Global research landscape on the brain-gut axis in early life: a bibliometric and visualized study.

BACKGROUND: the brain-gut axis was recognized as a bidirectional communication system linking the central and enteric nervous systems through neural, hormonal, immune, and metabolic pathways. It played a pivotal role in early-life neurodevelopment, immune programming, and gastrointestinal function. Although the field had grown rapidly, a comprehensive bibliometric evaluation of global research trends, hotspots, and collaborations was lacking. METHODS: we conducted a bibliometric and visualized analysis of publications on the brain-gut axis in early life from 2004 to 2024, using the Web of Science Core Collection (WoSCC) database. CiteSpace was used to generate co-authorship, institutional collaboration, keyword co-occurrence, and co-citation networks, as well as burst detection, timeline views, and dual-map overlays. RESULTS: a total of 1,429 publications were analyzed. Research output increased steadily from 2015 and peaked in 2023, reflecting growing global interest. The United States and China were the most productive countries, with strong collaborative ties observed among institutions in North America, Europe, and East Asia. University College Cork, University of California System, and Harvard University were the leading institutions, while J. F. Cryan, T. G. Dinan, and G. Clarke were the most influential authors. Early studies focused on anatomical and developmental aspects, while recent hotspots included autism spectrum disorder, intestinal permeability, fecal microbiota transplantation, and psychological stress. Mechanistic keywords highlighted short-chain fatty acids, tryptophan metabolism, vagus nerve signaling, and microglia-immune interactions. CONCLUSIONS: this study provided a comprehensive bibliometric overview of early-life brain-gut axis research over the past two decades. It revealed dynamic thematic evolution, expanding interdisciplinary collaboration, and the emergence of translational opportunities. These findings offer a valuable reference for future research directions in pediatric neurogastroenterology and microbiota-based interventions.