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Sunday, May 29, 2011

Gut Bacteria can affect Mental Health: Did you know that?

A gut feeling may help you make a quick decision, but one study credits the digestive system for possibly influencing our mental states and behavior as well. The results help scientists understand how inflammatory bowel diseases, irritable bowel syndrome and other digestive problems relate to the psychological issues that often accompany them. Anxiety and depression commonly occur alongside these bowel conditions.

Scientists want to know whether certain gut bacteria influence humans' behavior. If so, doctors may be able to battle the physical and psychological effects of disease-causing bacteria by developing treatments such as probiotics.In the experiment, researchers introduced antimicrobials to mice via drinking water in order to change the ratios of their gut bacteria. The control group received sterile water. Afterward, both groups of mice were placed between two boxes -- one in the dark, one with light, as scientists recorded their behaviors. Mice with altered digestive bacteria showed less apprehension and were less afraid to go into the well-lit box, a common sign the animals are under the influence of drugs or illness.

Scientists then euthanized the mice to study their intestines and brains. They also found out that the hippocampus of the rodents with altered gut bacteria produced more brain-derived neurotrophic factor, also called BDNF, which often increases with stress and mood disorders, according to the U.S. National Library of Medicine. Although more research is needed to extend the findings to humans, the team found that the effects of bacterial imbalance were reversible in mice, meaning there might be a way to do the same thing for humans in the future.

Source: U.S. National Library of Medicine


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