In recent years, medical researchers have been exploring more deeply the diverse cast of bacteria that inhabits the human digestive system and the ways that disturbances in the balance of that bacteria can impact our health.
Studies of our bacterial microbiome have typically been focused on finding new treatments for digestive disorders such as Crohn’s disease or Irritable Bowel Syndrome During this research, however, scientists have found that the gut microbiome’s impact on health is more complex and mysterious than anticipated– particularly the connection to mood and behavior.
Most research on the relationship between gut bacteria and mood had been conducted on animals, up until a series of important studies conducted in 2019 by the Cork University in Ireland and the University of Leuven in Belgium, that analyzed the gut bacteria of sample groups from different European countries. These ground-breaking studies showed that for subjects with signs of clinical depression, two types of bacteria are absent, when compared to their peers without depression.
The findings, while unprecedented, only begin to scratch the surface of the mind-gut microbiome connection. It’s difficult to isolate why certain bacteria impact our health in certain ways. It’s also a distinct possibility that the change in neurochemistry of those afflicted by depression is what changes the bacteria of the gut and not the other way around.
While the findings may not paint a complete picture, yet, the connection has been made. Exciting new avenues of research and treatment will emerge as more research focuses on this revelation.
Clara E.
Originally from upstate New York, Clara moved to Brooklyn in the spring of 2017 to finish her undergraduate degree and pursue her passions for architectural restoration, music composition, and visual art. She works as a receptionist at Element. In her free time, Clara likes to explore new neighborhoods, go to museums, and play the piano.