Health
We have known for years that the gut microbiome can alter brain function, but now research in mice is suggesting that the opposite is also true – that the brain modifies gut bacteria
By Grace Wade
The intestinal lining of a mouse, with several bacteria (green) and one red blood cell (red)
IKELOS GmbH/Dr. Christopher B. Jackson/Science Photo Library
The brain appears to directly influence the gut microbiome, as brain signals altered the composition of gut microbes in mice in as little as 2 hours. The finding strengthens the notion that communication along the gut-brain axis goes both ways.
It is clear from previous studies that gut microbes can influence brain function and mood, but whether the opposite was true – that…
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