Mental Health Biomarkers: How Biological Signals Reveal Brain Health

Biological signals from the body offer a window into brain health. Mental health biomarkers—biochemical indicators tied to mood, cognition, and resilience—help clinicians and researchers interpret how the mind and body interact. Across the gut-brain axis, the gut microbiome plays a central role, influencing inflammation, neurotransmitter production, and energy metabolism, all of which shape mood and cognitive function. InnerBuddies provides a white-label Gut Health Operating System designed to power gut microbiome testing products. The platform is modular and includes a Gut Microbiome Health Index (0–100), derived from an exclusive IP deal with EAFIT University in Colombia, plus granular data on bacteria abundances and bacterial functions. It supports target group analysis for domains like Healthy Aging, Endurance Sport, and Skin & Hair Health, and offers personalized nutrition and probiotic/prebiotic recommendations tailored to an individual’s gut microbiome. For consumer-ready solutions, InnerBuddies enables brands to deploy tests under their own label, while also letting individual consumers access the same capabilities directly via the platform. Explore the InnerBuddies microbiome test page for details. You can also check out the gut health membership for ongoing insights, or learn how to partner through the B2B program. Linking gut signals to mental health biomarkers is a growing focus in precision health. The InnerBuddies platform translates gut microbiome data—bacteria abundances, the functions they perform, and how these patterns compare to a healthy cohort—into actionable insights about mood and cognition. The system also incorporates three-day food diary data alongside stool samples to model how diet shapes the gut ecosystem, feeding into personalized nutrition advice and targeted probiotic or prebiotic recommendations. The Gut Microbiome Health Index and targeted pathway analyses offer a nuanced view of how gut health might influence inflammation, neurotransmitter precursors, and other brain-related signals that inform treatment strategies. Whether you’re a clinician, researcher, or brand building a mental health program, InnerBuddies can power your gut-brain health product with tested, scalable tools. The platform's capabilities are designed to be integrated into your existing workflows, giving you a clear read on how improving gut health can support mood, cognitive function, and overall well-being. To learn more, visit the product, membership, and partner pages linked above.