Summary: Brain-gut microbiome pathways are an important part of the gut-brain axis. Studies show that the gut microbiome produces many biochemicals that can alter brain function, reduce inflammation, and boost stress resilience. The new study found that those with higher stress resilience have very different gut microbiome populations.
The more the science focuses on the role of the gut in building resilience to stress, the greater the amazement. Every new study seems to suggest that the gut has a more significant say in the working of the brain than imagined earlier. Science now understands the science behind the “gut feeling.”
These new discoveries are even more important, considering that modern lifestyle is causing an epidemic of mental health issues and neurodegenerative disorders. Stress-related ailments are widespread. Mental health issues like depression and anxiety are common. An increasing number of people are developing issues like dementia.
Despite the rise of mental health issues and neurological disorders, science has yet to realize the cause of the rise fully. An increasing number of studies suggest that the answer may lie in the gut.
The brain-gut microbiome pathways have come under increased scrutiny recently. This is essentially one of the vital components of the gut-brain axis.
Trillions of microorganisms living in the gut produce thousands of bioactive compounds. Since the gut microbiome produces so many compounds, it is challenging to understand their role in health and wellness. However, now it is becoming clear that these compounds can modulate brain activity and increase or decrease stress resilience.
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Gut Microbiome Contributes to Stress Resilience
The gut microbiome can modulate brain activity in many ways. It may produce various nutrients like vitamins or other biologically active compounds. The gut microbiome may even produce some neurotransmitter-like substances in small amounts, thus directly influencing brain activity. They may also help build stress resilience by reducing inflammation, helping fight stress, and more.
Further, as science progresses, it is learning more complex underlying mechanisms. These microbial colonies in the gut produce metabolites that can influence brain metabolism, connectivity, gray matter volume and white matter tracts, and emotion regulation networks.
In the new study, researchers surveyed 116 patients to assess their stress resilience. They ranked them on a resiliency scale from high to low. Additionally, all the participants underwent MRI brain scans and stool tests.
Researchers found that those more resilient to stress had lower anxiety and depression. They were less prone to judge others. They could see different kinds of activity in their brain regions that are responsible for emotional regulation. Resilient individuals were better at regulating their emotions.
Further, stool tests showed that there was a difference in the microbiome of those with high and low-stress resiliency. High resiliency groups had microbiomes that produced a greater number of metabolites associated with lower inflammation and better gut barrier. These individuals were less likely to be living with leaky gut.
Better gut health in resilient individuals means that their gut is less likely to absorb toxins.
Researchers say the difference in microbiome signatures between the two groups was significant.
Stress resilience is not just the function of the brain but rather of the whole body. In those with better mental abilities, the whole community of microbes in the gut is working to produce biochemicals with therapeutic effects.
Researchers say that there is now a need for more studies to understand how these findings can be translated into clinical practice. One day, science will likely find a treatment approach targeting both the gut and the brain in those at risk of stress-related ailments.
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Source:
An, E., Delgadillo, D. R., Yang, J., Agarwal, R., Labus, J. S., Pawar, S., Leitman, M., Kilpatrick, L. A., Bhatt, R. R., Vora, P., Vaughan, A., Dong, T. S., & Gupta, A. (2024). Stress-resilience impacts psychological wellbeing as evidenced by brain–gut microbiome interactions. Nature Mental Health, 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1038/s44220-024-00266-6
