Psychobiotics: Shaping the Mind With Gut Bacteria
Jonathan P Jacobs1,2,3, Emeran A Mayer2,3
1Division of Gastroenterology, Hepatology and Parenteral Nutrition, VA Greater Los Angeles Healthcare System, Los Angeles, California, USA.
The psychobiotic Bifidobacterium longum 1714™ can alter brain activity in healthy individuals during social stress. This highlights the potential of the brain-gut-microbiome axis for managing behavioral and cognitive disorders.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Microbiology
- Gastroenterology
Background:
- Emerging evidence supports a brain-gut-microbiome axis where gut bacteria influence brain function and behavior.
- Psychobiotics, or probiotics affecting behavior, have shown promise in animal models.
Discussion:
- The study by Wang et al. investigated the effects of Bifidobacterium longum 1714™ on brain activity in healthy volunteers under social stress.
- Findings suggest that this psychobiotic can modulate neural networks associated with emotional and cognitive processing.
Key Insights:
- Bifidobacterium longum 1714™ demonstrated an ability to impact brain activity in humans during a social stressor.
- This provides further support for the role of the gut microbiome in influencing central nervous system functions.
Outlook:
- While the clinical relevance requires further investigation, these results encourage continued research into microbiome-targeted interventions.
- The brain-gut-microbiome axis presents a promising therapeutic avenue for affective, cognitive, and behavioral disorders.
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