Current research shows that gut bugs may have something to do with the way your brain functions. Now, if you feel anxious, tired, or worried, you know who to blame it on
This first started five years ago, when Shugui Wang found that these gut-migrobes could regulate activity in the brain.
Of course, this led to testing; on germ-free mice, and well as mice with the gut bacteria.
The results were very interesting: the germ-free mice were out in the open more, and more courageous. For example, when the scientists put them in a box with light and dark sections, they tended to go to the dark instead of light. This shows that the gut-microbes regulate and shape your brain in such a way, that what you feel could be because of them; whether depressed, tired, and so forth. As a result, we would be able to find more cures and go in-depth on a lot of mental illnesses.
Scientifically, the germ-free mice, when tested, broke down the chemicals corresponding to anxiety a lot faster, and those two brain chemicals were also less active.
In cconclusion, that really makes you think: what if gut microbes really impact the way you feel and think, especially anxiety and depression? What if it's not your fault?
Science Now
3 comments:
well... I guess we all should be on be chronic antibiotics to kill all the bacteria in our bodies then? in that case... welcome to the biggest crisis in hospitals, namely, C. diff! Clostridium difficile. Just really really bad, painful, disgusting diarrhea, not as bad as Cholera or VIPoma, but bad enough :)
Basically, patients are given antibiotics for whatever reason, usually b/c an overly persistent parent refuses to leave a doctor's office without antibiotics for a viral ear infection (remember, antibiotics work only on bacteria while most infections are causes by viruses that will go away on its own). The antibiotic is systemic and will destroy the natural flora of bacteria that lives within our bodies, namely the gut flora which actually serves a purpose. Not only do they kill other, more harmful bacteria like c.diff, but produce vitamin K and other essential nutrients. And once they're gone, C.diff can grow and spread. And c.diff is really bad, without even more antibiotics, patients will die. That's no good
Oh yea, so what ever happened to the "germ"-free mice? Just to back-track, the only way to produce them is to grow them in a sterile environment. That once they are exposed to the real word, because they lacked any immune protection, they all died. So... what's the point of being happy when you can't really be alive to enjoy it?
Thanks Nature, but no thanks :)
- coming from an over-worked, underpaid resident, reading his cousin's blog who should be sleeping right now while I should be taking care of patients. :)
happy Chinese new years everyone
About being on chronic antibiotics, that would be really really risky and dangerous step to take with your body, because antibiotics are created to kill bacteria, but along with the bad bacteria, it may also kill the good bacteria. So, if your on antibiotics more than you should be, it could end up hurting you even more than helping. Which is why doctors have to be very careful in prescribing these medications to sick patients, because it wouldn't do too good if the person were to take them frequently.
The germ-free mouse were actually "created" in a way by scientists so they could be used specifically for the testing. They were bred probably in a lab.
And your right, the weird ways nature is huh? Even though they can be less anxious, happier, braver, so much more, thye would probably be tested on for the rest of their short life-span. On the other hand, as you said, if they were to be let out, they still couldn't survive and adapt properly to the environment. That really makes you think sometimes, if you were in that situation, what would you choose?
Microbes appear to help shape brain development in mice, researchers in Sweden and Singapore have found, through regulating the activity of genes and levels of proteins. If the same thing is true for humans, it could lead to new ways of treating depression, anxiety, and other mental disorders.Therefore, I think that when gut bugs do affect your brain its not your fault,and the cause of anxiety and depression can be treated.
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