Describe how microbial communities in the body could influence brain and mental health states. Then, describe how brain and mental health states could influence microbial communities in the body. In what ways might these promote health and/or disease?
The gut is known as the “second brain”, therefore there must be some links between our brain brain and our gut…
The gut has neurons and nerves that are linked to our brain, thus having the gut influence mental/brain states and vice versa.
The microbiota can signal to immune cells to release cytokines which eventually gets back to the brain. Microbes can even produce neurotransmitters and corticosteroids which can influence the brain.
The mental/brain may release neurotransmitters, steroids, and hormones that effect the microbiota perhaps via the systemic interaction between the gut and the brain.
The vagus nerve serves as a connection between the gut and the brain. For example, in a study done with mice with an in tact vagus nerve, when inoculated with certain microbes, their depression decreased– showing that microbes can have an influence on the brain/mind. When the vagus nerve was disconnected the inoculation did not have an effect.
If we were to have more studies proving these connections, perhaps we would be able to help alleviate mental health/brain disorders through microbial therapies such as probiotics… or perhaps there could even be an intervention to introduce microbes at a certain age to decrease the chances of mental health disorders.
