Healthy gut may boost mental health
Gut microbes may influence brain chemistry, offering new mental health treatment avenues.
Why it matters
- Mental health disorders affect nearly 970 million people worldwide.
- Current treatments are ineffective for many, highlighting a need for new approaches.
By the numbers
- Nearly one in seven people globally live with a mental health disorder.
- Up to one-third of patients do not respond to current medications.
The big picture
- Gut microbes can change brain chemistry and stress responses in animal models.
- Early trials show probiotics, diet changes, and FMT can improve mood and anxiety.
- Psychiatric medications can alter the microbiome, further supporting the gut-brain link.
What they're saying
- Anecdotal evidence supports gut-brain connection; users report improved mental health with better gut health.
- Some question the novelty of the finding, suggesting it's been known for a while.
Caveats
- More research needed, including long-term studies and larger, diverse populations.
- Most evidence from animal models; human studies are early-stage.
What’s next
- Future studies to track gut changes over time and include diverse populations.
- More clinical trials on probiotics, diet changes, and FMT needed.