AETERNO Group AG · Zug, Switzerland · 2026

Neuro Intelligence

The first platform to monitor the gut-brain axis as a continuous biometric signal — detecting neuropsychiatric risk through inflammatory, microbial, and nutritional biomarker intelligence.

"The gut produces 95% of the body's serotonin. The brain and the microbiome speak the same chemical language. Neuropsychiatric disease begins in the gut — years before it reaches the mind."
1/3
Global population infected with Toxoplasma gondii
970M
People living with a mental disorder globally (WHO)
95%
Of serotonin produced in the gut, not the brain
14%
Of global disability burden caused by mental disorders
01 — The Axis

The Gut-Brain Axis

A bidirectional superhighway connecting the gastrointestinal system and the central nervous system — via the vagus nerve, neurotransmitters, immune signals, and microbial metabolites. Disruption of this axis is now linked to every major psychiatric disorder.

Central Nervous System
🧠 The Brain
  • Receives gut microbiome signals via vagus nerve (80% of signals travel gut → brain)
  • Neurotransmitter production influenced by microbial metabolites (SCFAs, GABA, serotonin)
  • HPA axis (cortisol stress response) directly modulated by gut flora
  • Neuroinflammation triggered by leaky gut — IL-6, TNF-α cross blood-brain barrier
  • Cognitive function, mood, and personality influenced by microbiome composition
⚡
Vagus
Nerve
Gastrointestinal System
🦠 The Gut
  • 100 trillion microorganisms — more cells than the human body itself
  • Produces 95% of body's serotonin, 50% of dopamine precursors
  • Gut dysbiosis (microbial imbalance) generates systemic inflammation
  • Intestinal permeability ("leaky gut") allows bacterial endotoxins into bloodstream
  • Parasite infections disrupt microbiome and directly alter neurotransmitter production
⚡
Neural Pathway
Vagus nerve carries bidirectional signals — 80% from gut to brain. HRV measures vagal tone directly.
🔬
Immune Pathway
IL-6, TNF-α, CRP — inflammatory cytokines cross the blood-brain barrier and drive neuroinflammation.
🧪
Metabolic Pathway
Short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) produced by gut bacteria regulate brain function and mood directly.
💊
Endocrine Pathway
Cortisol, ghrelin, leptin — gut hormones regulate stress response, appetite, and emotional regulation.
02 — Neuropsychiatric Conditions

Gut dysbiosis as root cause

Every major psychiatric and neurodevelopmental disorder now has documented microbiome signatures. These are not correlations — they are causal mechanisms with measurable biomarkers detectable weeks before clinical symptoms.

😔
Depression (MDD)
GUT SIGNATURE CONFIRMED
Reduced microbial diversity. Depletion of Coprococcus and Dialister genera. Elevated inflammatory cascade: CRP ↑, IL-6 ↑, TNF-α ↑. Gut produces insufficient tryptophan → serotonin deficit. SCFA-producing bacteria reduced.
CRP ↑ IL-6 ↑ Serotonin ↓ Omega-3 ↓ Vit D ↓
😰
Anxiety Disorders
HPA AXIS DYSREGULATION
Low SCFA-producing bacteria. High Proteobacteria. Cortisol chronically elevated — suppresses immune function and destroys gut microbiome. HRV significantly reduced. Overlapping mechanisms with MDD.
Cortisol ↑ NLR ↑ HRV ↓ GABA ↓
🧩
Schizophrenia
BLOOD-BRAIN BARRIER BREACH
60% of SZ patients had prior infection hospitalisation. Gut dysbiosis → endotoxemia → blood-brain barrier compromise. IL-6, IL-1β, IL-8, TNF-α elevated. Lactobacillus depleted. Toxoplasma gondii is a confirmed risk factor.
IL-6 ↑↑ TNF-α ↑ IL-8 ↑ Dopamine ↑
⚡
ADHD
FIRMICUTES/BACTEROIDETES IMBALANCE
Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes ratio disrupted (↑49.8%, ↓56.6%). Dopamine and norepinephrine dysregulation. Strong nutritional links: Omega-3 deficiency, Magnesium deficiency, Iron deficiency directly correlate with severity.
Omega-3 ↓ Magnesium ↓ Ferritin ↓ Dopamine ↓
🌀
Autism Spectrum (ASD)
GI SYMPTOMS IN 70% OF CASES
Profound gut dysbiosis documented in 70%+ of ASD patients. Altered SCFA production. Helminth therapy (controlled parasitic infection) shows therapeutic benefit via gut-brain axis. Microbiome transplants show early promise.
CRP ↑ SCFAs ↓ Vit D ↓ Serotonin ↓
🧠
Alzheimer's & Parkinson's
NEUROINFLAMMATION ORIGIN
Alpha-synuclein (Parkinson's hallmark protein) originates in gut before brain. Alzheimer's: IL-6, CRP chronically elevated years before diagnosis. Leaky gut → chronic neuroinflammation → neurodegeneration. Mediterranean diet reduces risk by 40%.
CRP ↑ IL-6 ↑ HbA1c ↑ Omega-3 ↓
03 — The Hidden Factor

Parasites & Mental Health

One of medicine's most overlooked connections — intestinal parasites directly alter brain chemistry, neurotransmitter production, and psychiatric symptom profiles. Many parasite infections are misdiagnosed as primary mental health conditions for years.

TOXOPLASMA GONDII
The Mind-Altering Parasite
1.5 billion
estimated global carriers
Infects brain tissue directly. Invades the limbic system and manipulates dopamine production. Creates measurable personality changes: increased risk-taking, reduced reaction time, altered emotional responses. Often symptom-free for decades.
  • Confirmed association with schizophrenia — multiple meta-analyses
  • Increased dopamine in infected brain regions → psychosis risk
  • Links to: depression, anxiety, suicidal ideation, bipolar disorder
  • Transmitted via undercooked meat, cat feces, contaminated water
  • Blood test available: Toxoplasma IgG/IgM antibody panel
INTESTINAL PARASITES — BROAD SPECTRUM
Giardia · Blastocystis · Helminths
3.5 billion
people carry intestinal parasites worldwide
Disrupt gut microbiome ecology → sustained neurotransmitter imbalances. Chronic inflammation triggered by parasite antigens elevates IL-6, TNF-α, CRP — the same inflammatory cascade seen in psychiatric disorders. Often misdiagnosed as IBS, anxiety, or depression.
  • Reduce serotonin and dopamine precursor availability
  • Trigger chronic CRP and IL-6 elevation → neuroinflammation
  • Giardia: documented cognitive impairment and depression link
  • Blastocystis: chronic fatigue, anxiety, brain fog
  • Paradox: some helminths show therapeutic anti-inflammatory effects (ASD research)
CLINICAL REALITY

Many patients presenting with treatment-resistant depression, anxiety, or cognitive decline harbour undetected parasitic infections. Treating the underlying infection often reduces psychiatric symptoms significantly — yet standard psychiatric workups do not include parasite screening. AETERNO's inflammatory signal monitoring detects the biological footprint of parasitic infection through CRP, IL-6, and NLR trends — generating a reason for clinical investigation before the psychiatric symptom becomes the presenting complaint.

04 — Nutritional Psychiatry

Food as Medicine for the Mind

Nutritional psychiatry is not alternative medicine — it is published science. Diet is now a primary modulator of neurotransmitter production, neuroinflammation, and psychiatric risk. This is precisely where AETERNO's biochemical expertise integrates.

Condition Gut-Brain Mechanism Key Nutrients AETERNO Signal
Depression ↓ Serotonin synthesis from tryptophan; gut dysbiosis; neuroinflammation Omega-3Vit DB12/FolateMagnesiumTryptophan CRP ↑ · HRV ↓ · IL-6 ↑
Anxiety ↑ Cortisol destroys microbiome; HPA axis dysregulation; GABA deficit MagnesiumL-theanineB-vitaminsOmega-3 Cortisol ↑ · HRV ↓ · NLR ↑
ADHD Dopamine/norepinephrine dysregulation; iron deficiency → dopamine synthesis impaired Omega-3IronZincMagnesiumVit D Ferritin ↓ · Vit D ↓ · CRP ↑
Cognitive Decline Chronic neuroinflammation; insulin resistance → brain glucose impairment (Type 3 diabetes) Omega-3Vit ECholineB12Curcumin HbA1c ↑ · CRP ↑ · HRV ↓
Bipolar Disorder Firmicutes/Bacteroidetes imbalance; mitochondrial dysfunction; oxidative stress Omega-3CoQ10NACMagnesium IL-6 ↑ · Ferritin ↑ · CRP ↑
Burnout / Adrenal Fatigue Cortisol depletion → microbiome collapse → serotonin deficit → depression spiral Vit CAshwagandhaMagnesiumB5 Cortisol pattern · HRV ↓↓
05 — AETERNO Signal

What AETERNO already detects

AETERNO's existing Blood Intelligence and HRV monitoring already captures the neuropsychiatric signal — because the inflammatory biomarkers of psychiatric disease are the same biomarkers AETERNO monitors daily. The neuro layer adds interpretation and context.

The Neuro Signal — Already in Your Blood

Every biomarker in AETERNO's Blood Intelligence panel carries neuropsychiatric significance. IL-6 is elevated in schizophrenia. CRP predicts depression onset. HRV measures vagal tone — the direct neural link between gut and brain. The platform already has the data. Neuro Intelligence adds the interpretation layer.

CRP — C-Reactive Protein
Inflammatory Cascade Marker
Elevated CRP (>3 mg/L) predicts depression onset with greater specificity than cholesterol predicts heart disease. Chronic low-grade inflammation is now considered a primary mechanism of major depressive disorder.
DepressionBipolarCognitive Decline
IL-6 — Interleukin-6
Neuroinflammation Driver
IL-6 crosses the blood-brain barrier and directly drives neuroinflammation. Elevated in schizophrenia (all phases), depression, and Alzheimer's disease years before clinical diagnosis. A key target for psychiatric intervention research.
SchizophreniaDepressionAlzheimer's
HRV — Heart Rate Variability
Vagal Tone & Gut-Brain Bridge
HRV directly measures vagal tone — the strength of the vagus nerve connection between gut and brain. Low HRV is consistently associated with anxiety, depression, PTSD, and reduced cognitive flexibility. AETERNO monitors HRV daily as a continuous neuropsychiatric signal.
AnxietyDepressionPTSD
NLR + Cortisol + Vit D
Composite Neuro-Immune Panel
NLR elevated in burnout and ADHD. Cortisol dysregulation drives microbiome destruction → serotonin deficit. Vitamin D deficiency is documented in depression, schizophrenia, and autism. Together: a composite neuro-immune signal detectable months before breakdown.
ADHDBurnoutAutism
06 — Expert Integration

Asja Atikovic — Biochemist Expert Module

AETERNO's first verified expert module. As a biochemist specialising in the nutritional-psychiatric interface, Asja brings clinical depth to signal interpretation — connecting biomarker patterns to nutritional interventions and gut-health protocols.

First Expert on AETERNO Platform — Nutritional Biochemistry & Neuropsychiatric Signal Intelligence
When AETERNO detects an inflammatory pattern consistent with neuropsychiatric risk — rising CRP, declining HRV, IL-6 elevation — users can connect directly with Asja for a biochemical interpretation, nutritional intervention protocol, and gut health assessment. This closes the gap between signal detection and expert guidance.
🔬
Biomarker Interpretation
Clinical review of AETERNO signal data through nutritional-biochemistry lens. Identifies nutrient deficiencies driving inflammatory patterns.
🥗
Nutritional Protocol
Personalised nutritional intervention based on biomarker profile. Gut microbiome support. Anti-inflammatory dietary plan.
🧫
Gut Health Assessment
Evaluation of gut-brain axis health. Parasite risk assessment. Probiotic and prebiotic protocol for microbiome restoration.

Updated Blood Markers Panel — Asja's Additions

Current Panel — Confirmed
  • Haemoglobin · Erythrocytes · Leukocytes
  • Haematocrit · MCV
  • Glucose · Creatinine · ALT · AST
  • Cholesterol · LDL Cholesterol
  • TSH · CRP · Ferritin
  • Vitamin D · HbA1c · Uric acid
  • IL-6 — Interleukin (Asja added ✓)
  • NLR — Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio (Asja added ✓)
  • Fibrinogen (Asja added ✓)
To Add — Asja's Recommendations
  • T4, T3, rT3 — full thyroid saturation panel
  • Homocysteine — inflammation & methylation
  • Cortisol — stress & HPA axis assessment
  • Testosterone · Estrogen / Progesterone
  • ApoB — superior to LDL for cardiovascular risk
  • TG:HDL ratio — metabolic dysfunction marker
  • Resting insulin — metabolic & neuro risk
  • Full vitamin & mineral profile
Neuro Intelligence · Expert Access
Your gut knows
before your mind does.
Monitor the gut-brain axis continuously.
Detect neuropsychiatric signals weeks before symptoms appear.
Connect with a verified biochemist — directly from the platform.
Request Access

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